Talking to the founder of ‘48920 Tattoo Shop’ in Portugalete, in the Basque country, is like having a masterclass on what it means to tattoo in a profound and conscious way.
Hi Koldo, can you tell me a little about yourself? You have a very unique name within the global tattoo scene. What is the origin of both Koldo and Novella?
I am a 37-year-old young man who works in Portugalete, where I have lived all my life. I have been tattooing for 14 years, and of those, 8 at ‘48920 Tattoo Shop’ (IG: @48920tattooshop). Regarding my name, Koldo is a common name in Basque, the language where I live. Novella is the last name of my father, of whom I am very proud, Juanjo Novella. My father is a great sculptor, and you can find his work in big cities around the world. From him I have learned a lot of what I know now.
How did it happen in your life that you became a professional tattoo artist?
I have always drawn, and spent my adolescence in painting graffiti. I wanted to learn to tattoo, but all the studios in my area closed their doors to me, so I wasn’t lucky enough to receive a traditional apprenticeship.
When I was 20 years old I started collecting pieces from good tattoo artists. At that time, the New School and Illustrative style was in fashion.
Coming from graffiti, it was this style that I most identified with, so I started getting tattooed with Jee Sayalero (IG: @jeesayalero). Every tattoo session was an opportunity for me to learn, and I absorbed as much information as possible.
I feel satisfaction in your words…
I am lucky that I know a lot of people and that allowed me to get clients easily. From my experience, socializing, going out and meeting people is key. The tattoo is something social, something from the street.
Yours seems to be an abstract and highly original style that takes inspiration from both Japanese and Tribal. Do you think this is accurate as a description or are we missing some other basic notion?
Tribal tattoo is a big inspiration for me. From Tribal I try to learn the ability to build large compositions with little visual information. Where I invest the most time is in the search for visually clean work, that the brain can process and understand in two seconds.
Interesting theory…
I want my tattoos to be enjoyed from the sidewalk in front of me! (laughs) I also appropriate a lot of Oriental iconography. Actually, I invest more time in studying and researching than in drawing.
I feel more like a researcher than a creator.
A tattoo artist recognized by colleagues and loved by customers like you, an artist who really knows how to go beyond the boundaries of certain styles, how does he always set himself new challenges? Where do you find continuous inspiration?
Most importantly, if I don’t feel like I’m having fun or playing, I’m sure the final work isn’t going to work. I want to bring something new to the tattoo, always with respect. To do this, I am lucky to have clients who trust my work.
From the moment they put it in my hands, they know that I have total freedom.
I have learned to filter. If I see that something is not going to work between us, I prefer not to accept the project. It is essential to educate the client, it is not about imposing, but about teaching and opening their eyes. If a client does not respond as you expect, it is your role to educate, guide and help the person understand what they are doing, so that the project functions.
Where do you find your muse when you tattoo?
My inspiration comes from many places, such as architecture and ceramics for example. I find ancient Asian architecture fascinating, especially the aesthetic solutions they find to solve problems. I like to see how what works in architecture can be transferred to the language of tattooing, creating something harmonious.
Tell me about your love for ceramics…
Ceramics are another big influence for me. They have a fluidity and organicity that remind me of the human body. When I’m looking for how to solve a design, ceramic is one of those places where I always find something that inspires me.
Can you tell me about your tattoo shop in Bilbao? How is it structured and organized at the level of other tattoo artists?
8 years ago I opened ‘48920 Tattoo Shop’ (IG: @48920tattooshop). I love the location, it offers the tranquility of a small town, but with the connections so that clients from anywhere can come. Regarding organization, one of the aspects that I value most is the shared work area, this fosters an environment of collaboration.
I share a studio with several artists I admire.
One of them is Iper (IG: @iper_666), who started as an apprentice in ‘48020’ and is an incredible tattoo artist. His style is illustrative, using black, all with a dark theme.
Another is Jonan Rodríguez (IG: @jonan.rod), who specializes in the Neo Traditional style. Without a doubt, he is one of the most technical and clean tattoo artists I have ever met. Then there is Miguel Gómez (IG: @_miguelgomezink_). He takes care of most of the daily work and receives the highest volume of clients, especially walk-ins. He is currently developing his own ornamental style. There is a fundamental person in all this: Juan, who is responsible for making sure everything works correctly. Without him, the studio would be chaos. Thanks to him everything flows perfectly!
You are no stranger to participating in very important international tattoo conventions. Can you tell me where you had the most fun? What if you have already booked some important dates on your agenda for 2025?
I will participate in the ‘Moundial du Tatouage’ (IG: @mondialdutatouage) in Paris, where I will also take the opportunity to finish a frontal for a client traveling from Norway. I will also be attending the ‘Tulum Tattoo Fest’ (IG: @tulum_tattoo_fest) at the end of February. A good opportunity to escape the cold of Bilbao. Possibly on the same trip I will visit the ‘Pura Tinta Fest’ (IG: @puratintafest) in Costa Rica. I’ve been visiting major conventions for years, but if I’m honest, I’m not going to tattoo. My goal is always to greet colleagues and enjoy the atmosphere. If I had to highlight a convention in particular, it would be the last ‘I Love Tattoo’ in Taiwan (IG: @i-love-tattoo-expo), just before COVID. That event changed my perspective on tattooing.
Do you have a favorite soundtrack that helps you stay focused on your artistic work?
When I’m at home, sitting down to draw, I like to put on trip hop. It gives me a lot of peace of mind. When I’m tattooing, I like to play American rap from the 90s. In the afternoon, I always feel like I’m lacking a little energy, so I put on something stronger, like Rage Against The Machine, System of a Down or Limp Bizkit. They are the topics that lift my spirits. And, from time to time, if I need to be in “marathon” work mode, I put on some techno.
And your last famous words are… ?
“Tattoo life is like that.” It seems like a coincidence that the name of this magazine coincides with that phrase, but in reality we use it a lot when plans go awry or things don’t go as expected. It is an ironic way of reminding us that, in the end, this is just another job, without superficialities that are sold on the networks.
Follow ‘48920 Tattoo Shop’ on Instagram: @48920tattooshop
