Leo Gonzales

Leo Gonzales was born and raised in Pojoaque near Santa Fe, NM. The films of Harryhausen and the writings of Tolkien had a profound and lasting impact on him from an early age. A love of monsters, and all things fantastic, horrific and alien have always been a driving force in his life. Leo has been tattooing professionally full-time for 30 years. He runs his own tattoo shop and art gallery – Stay Gold, in Albuquerque, NM and has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the industry.

A love and appreciation for Japanese mythology and the bio-mechanical tattoo aesthetic, as well as his love of folklore, and the great works of fantasy and horror literature have all culminated in a post apocalyptic vision within his intricately crafted oil paintings. His work has been exhibited in many group and solo shows in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM including KEEP Contemporary, as well as numerous showings in the Illuxcon Showcase and exhibiting in the Illuxcon Main Show in 2022, 2023, & 2024. He has several paintings published in the juried annual -Infected By Art Volumes 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 as well as the gigantic 2 volume book set- The Bio-mech Encyclopedia (alongside luminaries in the field such as H R Giger, Zdislaw Beksinski, and Guy Aitchison).