By With the Red Hot Chili Peppers discography playing in the background and the smell of ink in the air, the owner of Bixby Knolls Tattoo, Sergio Parga, shared his journey of bringing two of his passions together.
He brought art and the tattoo world to his hometown of Long Beach, making sure it was a place to serve his community. With passion and determination, Bixby Knolls Tattoo was established in 2018.
Bixby Knolls Tattoo is located at 4332 Atlantic Ave., in the heart of historical Bixby Knolls. This small neighborhood is a hotspot for the art scene of Long Beach and Parga knew this was the place he wanted to start his journey of tattooing.
At 29-years-old, Parga became a self-taught tattoo artist. During this time, Parga also took fine art seminars from atelier professors that worked at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and prestigious art schools. He explained he prioritized his journey of tattooing because it was the only form of art available to him due to his geographical and economical circumstances.
“People don’t paint in the hood, they usually tattoo,” Parga said.
Bixby Knolls Tattoo shop owner, Sergio Parga standing by mural outside of his business (He/Him) Photo credit: Scarled Murillo
He also said that he had to make a choice between continuing school or making money tattooing. He chose to tattoo and dropped out of college to pursue his passion.
“It’s a double-edged sword, I do think an education is really important, but sometimes there is no better education than being hands-on,” he said.
Every artist has their own style and in tattooing, Parga specializes in black and grey photorealism and pre-hispanic tattoo styles. His culture plays a big role in his art.
As a first-generation Mexican American, he wants to strive for a greater purpose, to help his community succeed and embrace their culture with pride.
Parga shared his love for Long Beach and “how it’s still the last real L.A.” He mentioned how everyone in Long Beach is really charismatic and talented at their niches–they are proud to be born and raised at the Beach.
Working at a business that involves interactions with many different people, Parga said his store demographic allows him to meet people from all walks of life. He sees many customers asking for eccentric tattoo ideas, specifically young college students.
“Young people are going to tell you what’s cool,” Parga said.
He then explained how excited he was to receive an award from the CSULB students for “Best Place to Get Inked.” He mentioned he didn’t even know there was such a thing, but he really appreciated all the votes and love he received.
Bixby Knolls Tattoo has a motto of “quality over quantity,” and Parga explained how he tries to deliver real products for real people. He wants to treat everyone with respect and make a positive impact to his community.
When asked about his future endeavors, Parga said he sees his shop “growing with the industry, growing with the times and the community.”
In the future, he hopes to open an art gallery to showcase art for his community to see.
To find out more about Bixby Knolls Tattoo and their work, follow them on Instagram or call at (562) 980-0119.
