Steve Soto

Born under the July sun of 1979 in the heart of Orange County, Stevie Soto came into the world as the eldest of four in a Mexican-American household fueled by hustle, honor, and heritage. His mother, from Mocorito, Sinaloa, and his father, from Ucareo, Michoacán, raised him with deep roots and stronger values. Pops was the kind of man who clocked in before the sun rose and still found ways to make it work when the system came up short. Moms was all love — supportive, warm, and the backbone behind the boy who would become a world-class artist.

Stevie’s early days were split between the baseball field, sketch pads, and VHS tapes of Bruce Lee flicks and prizefights — a quiet storm of talent, discipline, and West Coast edge. But like many young men surrounded by the shadows of party crews and gang culture, his teen years got real. At 15, he became a father to his son, Stevie Soto Jr. By 16, his best friend Canues was taken too soon — a loss that left scars deeper than ink. Through grief, fatherhood, and street-life chaos, art remained his salvation.

Graduating from a continuation high school in Santa Ana, he enrolled in community college with a vision: to make art his life, not just a way out. At 20, he discovered the needle and never looked back. By 21, he had locked down a tattoo apprenticeship. At 23, he got married and eventually welcomed three beautiful daughters into his world — Priscilla, Tatianna, and Natalia.

Stevie poured everything — pain, pride, familia — into the machine. His passion lit fires in every piece. From black-and-gray masterpieces to vivid renditions of Mexican heritage and Day of the Dead legends, his work spoke volumes. In 2007, he opened Goodfellas Tattoo, a shop that quickly earned a reputation as one of SoCal’s elite studios. By 2009, he was jet-setting to London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, spreading his style across continents, collecting hundreds of awards, and tattooing a global clientele who saw him as more than an artist — they saw him as a storyteller with a needle. Even after Goodfellas closed its doors in 2021, Stevie’s fire only grew stronger. Now posted up at the legendary Vatican Studios in Lake Forest, working alongside Franco Vescovi, he’s back with a vengeance — re-energized, inspired, and still climbing.

Today, Stevie stands as more than just a tattoo legend. He’s a proud father, now guiding his oldest daughter Priscilla as she apprentices under him — passing the torch to the next generation of ink slingers. At home, he’s found solid ground with his girlfriend Alyssa, and together they’re raising his nephew Desi with love, guidance, and West Coast strength. Stevie Soto is a living legend in the tattoo game. His style? Pure West Coast. His spirit? Unbreakable. His journey? Still being written — one black-and-gray masterpiece at a time.