Hey, I’m Adora Bao. I’m a tattoo artist, illustrator, and creator based in Metro Detroit, currently working with the team at Rat King Tattoo in Brownstown, Michigan.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. Before I could read, before I understood what I wanted to do with my life, I was already making things. Art has always been how I process the world around me.

I’m a first generation Hmong-American, born and raised in Detroit. My family came to the United States as refugees following the Vietnam War, and that history deeply shapes the way I see resilience, identity, storytelling, and community.

A lot of my work is inspired by symbolism, emotion, fantasy, folklore, astrology, nature, anime, manga, video games, and the strange beauty of being human. Whether I’m creating a tattoo, a talisman, or a piece of artwork, I want it to feel intentional. Something that stays with people.

At the center of everything I create is the belief that art can make people feel seen, grounded, empowered, or connected to something deeper within themselves.