Today we’d like to introduce you to Olesia Huliaieva.
Hi Olesia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a girl from Mariupol, Ukraine. A few years ago, I could never have imagined that at 38 I would open my own tattoo and art studio in the heart of Lisbon—and that Teddy Swims himself would follow me on Instagram and reply to my messages. But somehow, this is my life now.
My path was anything but predictable. I earned a master’s degree in engineering, studying wind turbines and alternative energy, and then spent around 15 years working in advertising and digital marketing. Four years ago, I picked up a tattoo machine—and everything changed.
In 2026, I founded Skinlines Art Space on Pink Street, one of Lisbon’s most iconic streets. Today, international artists come to work at my studio, we welcome clients from around the world—including some well-known guests—and I organize art parties and creative events.
Skinlines is more than a studio. It is a dream I once couldn’t even imagine—and proof that it is never too late to begin an entirely new chapter.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?It definitely wasn’t a smooth journey. I had a master’s degree and a 15-year career behind me—and then, in my mid-thirties, I chose to become a beginner again.
After moving to Portugal, I had to build everything from zero: learn a new language, understand a different culture, find clients, earn their trust, and develop my own recognizable style—all while being a mother 2years old daughter that moment and adapting to a new country.
Opening a studio brought another level of responsibility: financial risks, bureaucracy, finding the right artists, and creating not just a business, but a real creative community. There were mistakes, disappointments, and many moments when I questioned myself.
But I learned that you don’t need to feel completely ready. Sometimes you just have to keep moving while you’re still afraid. Every challenge made me more independent, more resilient, and more certain that I was building the life I truly wanted.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?I am a tattoo artist and the founder of Skinlines Art Space in Lisbon. https://www.instagram.com/lisbon_skinlines_studio I specialize in delicate fine-line tattoos and freehand body-flow designs created around the natural anatomy and movement of each person.
But my work is first and foremost about people. I genuinely love people, their stories, their bodies, and their individuality. I have never experienced professional burnout because I remain curious, positive, and truly excited about what I do.
What I am most proud of is that I built this career without a formal art education or a traditional artistic background. I simply had a vision, my own sense of style and aesthetics, and a strong work ethic. I learned through practice, observation, mistakes, and thousands of hours of work. Over time, this became my recognizable style.
I never compare myself to other artists, bloggers, or creators. The only person I compare myself to is who I was yesterday. For me, growth is not about being better than someone else—it is about becoming a stronger and more honest version of myself.
I don’t consider myself famous or extraordinary. I am an ordinary girl, a mother of a young daughter, and a woman who loves her body and wants to help others feel more confident and connected to theirs. I believe this openness, love for people, and positive energy are what truly distinguish both me and my work.
How do you think about happiness?Happiness, for me, is simply being alive.
Last year, I spent three months living with unexplained pain, undergoing endless medical tests, and fearing that I might have cancer. That experience completely changed the way I see life.
Today, I feel grateful simply to wake up knowing that I am here—and that my daughter, my family, and the people I love are alive and healthy. Everything else is a beautiful bonus: creating, meeting inspiring people, living near the ocean, and enjoying a glass of Prosecco at sunset.
Happiness is no longer something I am waiting for. It is realizing that the people I love and I are alive, healthy, and together.
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Image Credits Olesia Huliaieva
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