I am Malaika "Mecca" Burke, a Guyanese-American visual artist based in New Orleans. Raised in New Jersey, I first came to the city in 2007 as a volunteer during the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from New Jersey City University in 2009, I chose to make New Orleans my permanent home.

I work primarily as a tattoo artist and painter, though I occasionally branch into videography, sculpture, and murals. My work explores religious iconography, portraiture, mythology, and the natural world, examining the ways these visual languages overlap and intersect.

I am the owner of Hell or High Water Tattoo, one of New Orleans' premier tattoo studios. I have been profiled in Forbes magazine, and my work has been exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, and A Gathering of the Tribes in New York, among other venues.

Describe your art in three words. 

Fluid, Colorful, Vibrant. 

Describe yourself in one word. 

Chaotic 

What do you love the most about creating art in your community? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work?

Steel sharpens steel, and New Orleans is where art happens. Being in a city where art is everywhere and celebrated is just inspiration to make more art. I love the way this city motivates me.

Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?

On occasion, I have described creating art less like a practice or hobby and more like a compulsion. It exists in the back of my mind at all times and is my tool to understand and interpret the world around me. There isn't so much a ritual when I approach a piece; instead, it's a constant stream of scribbles and ideas that occasionally get built upon.

Where do you draw inspiration?

Errwhere Baby

Who are your artistic influences or gurus?

So many: Artemisia Gentileschi, Salvador Dalí, Fredao Oliveira, Aesop Rock, Chuck Close, and Octavia Butler. 

Where can we find you when you are not creating art?

You can't. I cease to exist.

What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

Right now. However later is a strong contender. 

What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.

I can't wink. It's my deepest shame. 

All works listed online are available to be viewed at Where y’Art Works Gallery by appointment.

Please allow 7 -14 days shipping for standard orders. All packages are shipped within the Continental United States through the USPS via Priority Mail with Tracking. For international shipping prices, rush orders or commissions, login and send me a private message through the messaging tool on my profile page.