Alejandro Prada, better known as Black Prada, shares his journey, challenges and goals.
Alejandro Prada, famously known as Black Prada on social media, is a professional tattoo artist based in Madrid, Spain. His passion for fashion, art and creativity is reflected in his unique Black, Author’s Style and Dotwork designs. He primarily creates geometric and mandala compositions, exhibiting a remarkable range as an artist.
He is a highly sought-after instructor and practitioner in the international tattoo community, known for his perfect combination of ancient geometric concepts with contemporary tattooing techniques. His influence goes beyond Madrid as he participates in international conferences and educational events, contributing to the evolution of the contemporary tattoo world.
Q: What made you choose a career as a professional tattoo artist?
A: I remember watching the movie Cocktail when I was a kid and thinking, “That job must be fun.” Once I realized that, I became increasingly immersed and focused on my career. When I was younger, I worked as a personal trainer, served drinks at night, and in my spare time I worked as a model for small brands and low-profile fashion shows.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the name Black Prada?
A: I wanted to create a type of service that combined elegance and sophistication with good manners and etiquette. I decided to build a personal brand around videos of me working directly in front of the client. Part of my body is tattooed in a style known as “blackout,” and by combining this with my passion for fashion, Black Prada was born.
Q: Please describe your childhood, family life and growing up.
A: My childhood was really tough and complicated — probably too much for any child to go through. But I learned some very important life lessons from those experiences, and today I’m grateful for them because they taught me how to handle whatever difficult situations may come my way much more easily.
Q: What’s a piece of advice that has kept you going all these years?
A: The love of my little family, never giving up, never failing, living a healthy lifestyle, training, being consistent and taking care of the people who love you.
Q: What are some of the challenges you have faced, and how have you overcome them?
A: Everyday life. I try not to dwell on the past and instead focus only on the present and the future. Every day is a new challenge.
Q: What is the secret behind your success?
A: I believe the secret is consistency: enjoying the journey and putting passion and heart into everything you do. And, above all, making sure that everyone I work for is satisfied with my work — that is my greatest reward.
Q: Are you most excited about projects for this year or for the future?
A: Every year, I try to become stronger and happier than I was the year before, while continuing to correct my mistakes and improve my habits and skills. I have future projects in mind, and I trust that life will bring them to me at the right time.
Q: What’s your dolce vita?
A: Family, health, eating well, peace of mind and enjoying every moment.
