Worldwide Badass Brings Intersectional Tattoo Community to Capitol Hill

Tattoo art by Gio Lopez / WWBA

After the tattoo expo at the Seattle Center, tattoo artists across Seattle received a notable amount of appointments to fulfill new client requests. Having entered the Seattle market recently, Worldwide Badass (WWBA), a tattoo company, has found their space in the Seattle market on famous Pike Street in Capitol Hill.

Calel Metcalf and Dario Rodriguez, best friends and owners of WWBA, make statements on the state of the market and share some advice for new and upcoming tattooists, companies, and how they may see themselves moving into the Seattle community. Read on to gain insight on the business side of artistry. 

Michael Baldovino (MB): What is your experience in the tattoo industry and how did you get the space where you are now? 

Calel Metcalf (CM): I manage several artists across the PNW and the United States. Leasing a commercial real estate space is actually more attainable than I initially thought. On one of our first trips to Seattle (from Wenatchee), I drove around Capitol Hill one night looking for a potential studio. I found what I believed to be the perfect space. It was empty and there was no signage, so I wrote a letter and placed it under the door. The next day, the owner called me and invited me to view it. Although it needed quite a bit of renovation, I could envision it perfectly.

MB: What is your advice for artists moving into the Seattle space?

CM: My advice for established artists generating a good income is to visit in person and try to meet with the owner directly, rather than dealing with gatekeepers. Avoid large real estate companies and aim for something more unconventional. For instance, we obtained our space and proof of income by showing our deposit history, which is not typical for larger real estate firms.

Meeting an owner and building rapport in person is far more effective than online communication. Our property owner, who takes photos of tattoos in his free time, and I bonded during our initial in-person meeting.

MB: What are good skills necessary to succeed in the industry?

CM: Finding a good business partner or another artist with similar goals is crucial. Working as a team is far more effective than working alone. We invest significant time in our creativity beyond just tattoos, including learning to film, take photos, and edit videos. All these skills tie into our work. As the owner of a marketing and management company, I see how our teamwork and collaboration all ties in together. We support each other and focus on this daily.

MB: What has your experience been in the tattoo industry in Seattle?

Dario Rodriguez (DR): My experience as an artist in Seattle has been incredibly rewarding. Winning my first award in this city was a significant milestone. Since arriving, I've worked hard to adapt to this vibrant artistic community, which has allowed me to evolve and develop my style. Seattle has given me the opportunity to share my work with people who appreciate both the art and the stories behind each tattoo. This recognition reflects my constant effort and the connection I've built with the people here.

MB: What advice do you have for emerging artists?

DR: Working with a creative team has been essential to my growth as an artist. It's not just about creating tattoos, but also about collaborating on audiovisual content, designing marketing strategies, and ensuring that every creative aspect—from the initial idea to execution—has a strong visual and emotional impact.

This team dynamic allows us to explore new ideas, continuously improve, and stay at the forefront of industry trends. The synergy between the team and me has enabled us to achieve results that would be difficult to reach individually, helping me to keep evolving in the industry.

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Tattoo art by Gio Lopez / WWBA

Calel and Dario’s WWBA studio is a well-decorated space with a team of artists and the owners. Many notable works in their studio portfolio show strong facial structures in character busts venturing into both humans and animals.

Throughout the year, guest artists are featured. Nick was recently in Seattle bringing vibrant colors into dreamy, euphoric effects and framings that seem outer-dimensional. Uplifting artists in the local market, WWBA studio accepts applications to become an artist, whether resident or guest.

Calel and Dario’s participation here intensifies the competition among many tattoo studios filled with talented artists. It will be a pleasure to see the expansion of tattoo artists continuing to put Seattle on the map for many resident and traveling artists.