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S T O R Y PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
Venice-based tattoo artist Dillon Forte is one of the world’s top artists in sacred geometry design.
Leaving His Mark Dillon Forte goes where no tattoo artist has gone before
By Kamala Kirk One of the world’s top artists in sacred geometry design, Venice-based tattoo artist Dillon Forte views art as an extension of the body. From Morocco to Mount Everest, he has traveled across the globe, finding inspiration in all corners of the world and amidst nature. It’s reflected in his harmonious designs. Forte’s clientele includes Usher, Kehlani, Kat Von D, Imagine Dragons’ bassist Ben McKee and NFL linebacker DeAndre Levy. One of his most memorable experiences was flying to
Morocco to tattoo Chris Hemsworth, who was filming “Men in Black: International.” “That was one of the most interesting experiences, I came from the London Tattoo Convention and met up with Chris at his hotel,” Forte said. “We had been talking for a while about doing a piece for him. His daughter was there looking at my drawings and while she was doodling, she created a design based off one of mine, so I tattooed it on his arm. Another time I flew a helicopter out to a location above Base Camp on Mount Everest to do a tattoo for someone.”
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On another occasion, Forte tattooed himself while visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Within the king’s chamber, he tattooed three dots on himself to represent the alignment of the pyramids with the Orion star system. “I had my tools in a fanny pack and the tiniest little setup, it was a really cool experience,” Forte said. “I’m super into anthropology and Egyptology. I love learning about history, why we are here, what happened in the past and how that relates to what’s happening now.” Forte enjoys traveling because
it gives him a break from his routine and opens him up to new ideas and inspiration. He regularly attends tattoo conventions around the world and has traveled to Bali, Japan, Nepal, Tahiti, Singapore, Mexico, among other places. “My parents took me traveling frequently and it’s one of my biggest passions,” Forte said. “I’m very ritualistic and routine-based, but I also like to have a complete break from that to have new experiences and adventures. I love being outside and I’m really inspired by ancient wisdom, which a lot of people overlook because they
don’t understand it. True innovation comes from understanding the past and ancient practices.” Born in Santa Monica, Forte moved to the Bay Area with his parents and grew up in Oakland and Berkeley. His mom was an author and his dad was a fashion photographer, so Forte grew up exposed to the arts. The book “The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life” by Drunvalo Melchizedek fueled his geometric inspiration and has remained a foundation of his work. “My parents always had books around so I would read about a
