Mayo Landicho stands among his peers as a world-class multi-awarded tattoo artist. With more than a decade of experience, Mayo’s original designs and beautifully rendered interpretations have graced the bodies of artists, celebrities, sports figures, teachers and other celebrated tattoo artists locally and throughout the world. His reputation as a fine artist has grown to include membership in the elite and internationally renowned Dimasalang III group and SPAA Society of Filipino American Artists in New York, while his charisma as a performer has garnered praise as an upcoming musician.
Situated in a private fully licensed studio on Main street, Birthmark Tattoos is what most people refer to as: “Vancouver’s BEST Kept Secret” and is the final destination for some of Vancouver’s top name clients. It is a place where stories unfold and become an inspiration for new art, new tattoos, new memories.
Fully Licensed and Health Certified Tattoo Artist in Vancouver, Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Illinois and New York in the United States of America.
TRADITIONAL HAND-TAPPING TECHNIQUE
A Glimpse of one of Landicho’s Passions “Mayo Landicho has the heart and soul of a warrior.” This statement, however, bold was validated in 2013 by the last Kalinga Tattoo artist in the world 94-year-old traditional tattoo-tapping ‘batok elder’ Whang-Od. Once a thriving warrior society, the Kalinga village of Buscalan now sits peacefully upon the Cordillera Mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines; a living testimonial to the ways of days gone by. It is this mystical place without any sense of time that first beckoned to Landicho almost two decades earlier in a vision that he would behold nearly twenty years later. Captivated by the enchantment of ancestral and age-old tribal art, Landicho set upon a journey in 2013 back to his homeland and into the dangerous and remote mountains of Luzon in search of Whang-Od. His goal was to learn the ancient skill of tattoo-tapping and to bring back this skill to Vancouver.
Landicho who is presently a celebrated tattoo artist in the ways of traditional tribal tattooing is currently sought around the world for his knowledge of artistry and technique. Inspired both by his visit to the Whang-Od and his fascination with modern design, his studio has finally become the vision that he carried and nurtured for over twenty years.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Landicho’s talents and achievements reached a pinnacle as he won TOP awards such as:
Tatak International Tattoo expo, Florida USA, 2024
1st place Best in Dragon
1st place Best in Free Hand Tattoo
1st place Best in Hand/Manual Tattoo (no machine)
360 Ink Fest, Portland, Oregon, July 2019
1st place Best in Tribal Tattoo
2nd place Best in Oriental Tattoo
2nd place Best in Portrait Tattoo
2nd place Best in Art Tattoo
Vancouver Tattoo Culture Show, April 2019
1st place Best in Dot Work Tattoo
Van Isle Tattoo Expo, Victoria, BC, Canada 2017
2nd place Best in Ornamental Tattoo
2nd place Best in Ancient Japanese Tattoo
2nd place Best in Geometric Tattoo
Ink Travellers Tattoo Convention,n Washington, US. February 2013
1st runner up for female tattoo
Special Award for Traditional Tattooing
Urban Tattoo Convention, Brooklyn New York, 2015
1st place Best in Tribal Tattoo
2nd place Best in Tribal Tattoo
West rock Tattoo convention, Victoria, BC
1st place best in Black & Grey Tattoo
1st runner up for best sleeve
Westcoast Tattoo Show, Vancouver, B.C, 2012
2nd runner up for best overall female tattoo
In addition, Landicho was one of the featured artists in Vancouver Sun during the West Coast Tattoo And Culture Show 2010, X-Files, Artista, Living Today magazines Westcoast Ink Magazine, 24/7 Newspaper, North Shore News, Fight Club News, Royal City Record – New Westminister, MetroVan Independent News, Centerpiece/The Voice Newspaper, Tribune Post, The Herald News and ET Online Manila. Some pictures of Landicho’s work were featured at Tattoo Magazine – World’s Largest-Selling Tattoo Magazine, Tatouage Magazine – a French tattoo magazine, Inked Magazine and Rebel Ink Magazine.
Landicho received awards through his volunteer works in recognition for his outstanding community service for immigrant youth; presented by Bayanihan Multicultural Youth Award, through Multicultural Helping House Society in Vancouver, BC. In 2017, he also was given a certificate of recognition from Kathara Pilipino Indigenous Arts Collective Society for his outstanding work in preserving the Indigenous Arts tattoo and music. Additionally, the MLA of Vancouver, Mable Elmore awarded Landicho for his service and dedication to the community fundraising event. By Kahon Multimedia he as given a certificate of recognition. Landicho’s tattoo shop in Vancouver, BC was ranked the “Top Tattoos Shop in Vancouver” given by Yocale, a local business association and was given the “Community Choice Award” winner of 2017.
CERTIFICATES
- Award of Recognition from The City of Seven Lakes San Pablo City Association East Coast Chapter USA as an Outstanding San Pableno May 2023, Nutley, New Jersey for his Contribution in Preserving Music and Arts.
- Certificate of Recognition from Sanguniang Office of San Pablo City Laguna for his contribution to Preserving the Filipino Arts and Culture through Music and Arts January 2023.
- Certificate of Recognition, from the Office of the Presidential Advisor for Culture and Arts, Malacanan Grounds Manila, for Outstanding Works in the Field of Arts and Culture, and Significant Contribution to Philippine Culture August 2021.
- Certificate of Recognition Awards from the Philippines was also given to Landicho from the Republic of the Philippines Office of the Mayor, Amben Amante and Vice-Mayor, Angie Yang in San Pablo City, “for bringing pride and honor to our city through his exemplary achievements in the field of tattoo, art and music.” Another award was given to Landicho from the Congresswoman Sol Aragones for his “contribution to the attainment of the spirit of the arts and tattoo.” Dr. Rosauro Sta. Maria, department head of Laguna Tourism, Culture Arts and Trades recognized Landicho’s work for his achievements in Canada. Lastly, the Governor Hon. Ramil L. Hernandez, awarded Landicho for the “Best International Tattoo Artist in Canada & USA”, Best Lagunense, for perserving and promotion the Filipino tattoo arts and culture worldwide.
