Kansas City tattoo artist makes Chiefs art out of Oreos
By Jacob Milham
Kansas City area tattoo artist Gabe Uvario used a unique medium for a Kansas City Chiefs art piece.
Art is the broadest and most subjective part of our everyday lives. From music to architecture to clothing, art is everywhere, no matter how much one loves traditional art. On Sundays, Kansas City Chiefs fans have their own art on the gridiron. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is called a magician, but his playmaking is a thing of beauty. Kansas City tattoo artist Gabe Uvario took the team’s art on the field a step further, but to know Uvario’s art, you need to know the person.
Uvario has a quiet art studio on Broadway in Kansas City. He is 31 years old and has grown his skills and love for art since his early years in New Jersey.
“Since I was four years old, I just loved drawing,” Uvarios said. “I believe everyone is an artist to a different degree. Some people express it differently or pursue it more. ”
He recounted art throughout his childhood, drawing his father’s friends in the family’s Mexican restaurant or drawing on high school friends. Those fledging years have evolved into a full-time tattooing career.
Scrolling through his Instagram feed, you see dozens of tattoos, ranging from photo-realistic portraits to cityscapes showing Kansas City pride. There are occasional appearances by Uvario himself, and those are often with some sort of Chiefs representation.
“My family moved around a lot, so I never had a hometown team,” Uvario said. “I became a Cheifs fan after moving to Missouri, during the [quarterback] Alex Smith years. I am a big Patrick [Mahomes] fan. I’ve even had him sign some of my work before. ”
Uvario’s body of work has several Chiefs-related pieces, ranging from Arrowhead Stadium to tattoos celebrating Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory. Uvario even tattooed Chiefs cornerback DiCaprio Bootle. Bootle had nothing but good things to say about his tattoo from Uvario, calling him “the best of the best.” However, Uvario had to one-up that experience in an unexpected way.
Uvario and his girlfriend spent 50 hours over a five-day span on a piece of Oreo art. The piece shows Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce standing on the sidelines together during the 2021 season. The two superstars are big reasons for both the Chiefs’ recent success and Uvario’s love for the Cheifs.
“I always like to compete and see if I can do anything,” Uvario said. “We put 240 Oreos in the piece, way more than [Rob the Original]’s Tupac portrait.”
Uvario took inspiration from “Rob the Original,” a popular barber who also makes art out of different mediums. From cracked glass to toast to pumpkins, Uvario had some high-level inspiration. He described the process like a puzzle, using the details in each Oreo to create the overall picture. Uvario did not want his work to go to waste, so he preserved it in resin. While the initial work was a labor of love, he intends to either keep this portrait in his studio or make it available at an upcoming Nov. 19–20 art show in Kansas City.
Art is in everyday life, and for fans, it takes shape in many forms. Uvario took his skills and fandom to a new level in this piece. His Oreo art has received thousands of likes on social media and dozens of comments from amazed viewers. Many have tagged Kelce, Mahomes, and the Chiefs themselves to show them Uvario’s work, but gaining their attention is not his ultimate goal.
“I love entertaining people with my artwork,” Uvario said. I am still improving, and I want to be one of the greatest artists in the world. Besides, who does not want to be their own boss? ”
If you would like to see more of Uvario’s tattoos, art, or just to follow another Chiefs fan, check him out on Instagram at @gabe13tattoo.