Amanda Kay

Amy Nicoletto - Resident Guest Artist

Nathan Peterson

Alexa Deliz

Cheyanne Washington

Resident Guest Piercer

Zuhayla Portillo

Matt Green - Junior Piercer

Isabelle Mondelaers

Resident Guest Piercer

Ashley Rodriguez

Maddy Landy - Junior Piercer

Eric Thuesen

Resident Guest Piercer

At the age of 15, Nathan, a punk-rock kid, was working under his older brother who was a stage manager for local bands in Los Angeles.  Nathan already had an interest in medicine, the human body as well as artistic expression and piercing seemed to encompass all three of these intrigues.  As he delved deeper into the punk rock scene with local bands such as Haunted Garage and Dutchess DeSade in 1991, he began to get more “uncommon” piercings of the day; tongue, tragus, nipples, etc.  This naturally parlayed him into piercing professionally starting in 1993.  

Nathan went to the Gauntlet for most of his early piercings.  The Gauntlet is known to many as having the biggest influence on modern-day piercing industry-wide.  They were a huge inspiration to him personally and professionally.  When they offered formalized education courses, he took their piercing training seminar.  

The Gauntlet offered the first formal education or training when it came to piercing.  He continued building his education through PPIS (Professional Piercing Information Systems) as well as Fakir Musafar courses and APP conferences.  In the early 90’s, the internet was void of relevant piercing information so Nathan would constantly read anatomy books and seek out his friend’s parents who were in the medical field for advice and knowledge for safe practices.  PFIQ’s (Piercing Fans International Quarterly) was also where he got a breadth of knowledge and inspiration on how to perform specific piercings and aftercare in the community.  In addition, he would read National Geographic for information on traditional and cultural piercings and jewelry. He has also done formal and advanced training in branding, scarification, suspension, surface piercings and dermal anchors.  

Nathan’s passion knew no bounds and he was soon piercing his friends. One memorable occasion, as Nathan was working as a roadie and videographer, was piercing his friend, Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine, at Club with No Name in Hollywood during an earlier on show.  

Nathan’s philosophy on piercing is that everybody deserves to be pierced in a safe environment using aseptic technique with a piercer that cares about the client; whether it’s the client’s first or 20th piercing.  He believes in “loving his neighbor as himself” no matter one’s culture, race, background, orientation, etc.  Nathan sees himself as not only a piercer, but an educator for healthy and safe piercings.  He aims to guide his clients in a direction where they themselves are also knowledgeable to make the best choices regarding piercings and health in their current and future piercing endeavors. Ultimately it’s his goal to provide the safest, cleanest, most knowledgeable and friendly experience when it comes to piercing.

In 2000, after seven years in the professional industry, he had the opportunity to open his own shop.  He felt led to open his own shop because he had a vision of how shops should be run that was rarely happening, and to a degree, still isn't currently that common.  Nathan materialized his vision in opening Nathan’s Tattoos and Piercings in Canoga Park July of 2000 and has been steady and strong since.  He credits his success first and foremost to God but also to the fact that he puts people first.  He takes great care to CARE about his clients and they feel his warmth when they enter the shop.  

When one walks into the shop, they’re immediately greeted and offered water or homemade fudge made by Nathan himself!  He finds joy when everyone feels welcome and respected in his shop. He has worked hard to create a culture where the client is cared for OVER the money or prestige that is common in the world of tattoos and piercing.  Walking into a shop where it’s light, bright and friendly is not often associated with tattoo and piercing shops; yet it’s what one experiences when receiving either a piercing or tattoo at Nathan’s.  

Nathan also believes that in order to be the best piercer possible, he needs to devote 100% effort to his craft, rather than tattoo as well.  Believing that it’s better to be a master of one, rather than a jack of all, at the shop, one will find that piercers are piercers and tattoo artists are tattooers.  Nathan wanted to incorporate tattoos in the shop because he finds that both tattoos and piercings are beautiful forms of artistic expression on the human body.  He loves when he’s given the opportunity to intermix the two by being able to incorporate dermal anchors, surface barbells, scarification or branding with a tattoo.  He also finds the rich history of tattooing and piercing in America, as well as internationally, fascinating. Nathan enjoys studying and collecting antiquities pertaining to both tattoos and piercings.  One can find his collections intermixed in the jewelry display cases in the lobby of the shop!  

Over the past two decades plus, Nathan has apprenticed over a dozen piercers.  Teaching has been a great blessing; as one teaches, one inherently acquires a deeper knowledge and understanding of one’s craft.  He believes that a piercer should never stop learning and is always seeking to test out and learn new techniques as well as push himself artistically to create out of the box piercings.  

Nathan also found himself faced with the opportunity to co-found a sister shop, Nathan’s Anthems with William “Billy” York who mans the helm, up in Redding, CA.  The Redding Shop, founded in 2005, holds a special place in his heart as it’s where he met his wife, Crystal.  

If one reading this biography can only take one thing away it’s this…Nathan cares about his clients; first and foremost.  It is about their safety and knowledge when it comes to piercing.  He also realizes that without the support from the community and his loyal clientele, he wouldn’t be able to pursue his dreams and passions.  So from the bottom of Nathan’s heart, he says thank you to those who have allowed him to pierce them over the years.  Thank you to those who gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion when he was a young punk kid.  Thanks to those who took the time to read his bio on his philosophy on piercing.  And, finally, thanks to those who will commit themselves to only receiving the best quality piercings by coming to the shop and partaking in all we have to offer.  Thank you.

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