I didn’t think I’d be writing this. Not because I didn’t plan on getting another tattoo—I always plan on it. Ink feels like therapy to me, except it leaves something behind you can actually see. But what I didn’t expect that CISCO SkinArt, a little studio tucked away in Gilbert, would get under my skin—in the best possible way.
It isn’t flashy. You don’t walk in and get hit with neon lights or trendy chaos. It’s calm, like Cisco himself, the artist behind it all. The kind of calm that comes from someone who’s been doing this for over a decade and still treats each piece like it actually means something. You can feel it in the air—this is someone who listens first, draws second, and tattoos third. And that order matters.
When I first stopped by, it wasn’t to get inked. I was just curious. I’d seen the shop mentioned in a few Facebook groups, and the Yelp reviews were all glowing without sounding fake—like real people just couldn’t shut up about how good their experience was. One guy even wrote that his cover-up turned out better than his original idea. Another said something about feeling more like a collaborator than a client. I thought, “Okay, maybe this isn’t your typical transactional tattoo place.”
Spoiler: It’s not.
Cisco actually sat with me, sketchbook in hand, like we were building something together. No rush. No pressure. Just questions like: “What’s the story behind it?” and “How do you want to feel when you see it every day?” Not gonna lie, that caught me off guard. Most places I’ve been to, they just want the image and your deposit. Here, I felt like he wanted the truth.
A friend of mine, Jamie, who’s had work done all over Arizona, told me, “There’s precision in Cisco’s hands, but there’s empathy too.” I thought she was being dramatic until I watched him work. Every line was intentional. Every pause, every adjustment—like he was talking with the skin instead of just drawing on it.
The shop itself? Spotless. You could eat off the floors if you really wanted to. But beyond the hygiene (which is obviously non-negotiable), there’s this quiet comfort in the space. Like an art gallery collided with a cozy living room. Music humming low, a soft buzz of the machine, and Cisco just being Cisco—steady, focused, and totally locked in.
What’s also cool is how much the community seems to love him. Google reviews read like love letters. Not just about the tattoos, but about him—his energy, how he remembers your story even months later, how he shows up to local art nights and fundraisers like he’s everyone’s creative big brother. Someone even mentioned how Cisco helped design a tribute piece after their dad passed, and honestly, that one got me.
I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet—pricing. I mean, let’s be real: custom tattoos aren’t cheap, nor should they be. But if you’re unsure where your budget lands, there’s this nifty Tattoo Cost Calculator that gave me a solid ballpark figure before I even walked through the door. It made the whole planning part way less intimidating. Super helpful if you’re the type who likes to know what you’re walking into.
And listen, I’ve had tattoos I regret. We all have. But this one? The one Cisco did for me? Not a single ounce of doubt. Every time I catch it in the mirror, I smile. Not because it’s perfect (though it pretty much is), but because I know what it took to get there. The story, the intention, the time. And yeah, maybe even a little healing.
If you’re in Gilbert and looking for more than just ink—if you want art that sticks with you in more ways than one—go see Cisco. Just… trust me.
—Megan R., Gilbert, AZ
Contact Information
Shop Name: CISCO SkinArt
Address: 894 E Warner Rd #105, Gilbert, AZ 85296
Website: https://www.instagram.com/cisco.skinart/
Phone: +1 (480) 415-2759
