ERIK (aka Matthew Hayos)

When Erik is not out scouting for more mountain bike and running trails, he is making art and creating tattoo. Erik is currently a resident tattoo artist at Lash & Esthetic in Noblesville, Indiana. His love for tattoo is evident in his attention to all the finer details of a tattoo client’s experience as well as the tattoo itself. With two decades of experience, he specializes in fine line, illustrative, geometric, new traditional, & tribal fusion styles—creating custom designs that reflect each client’s individuality & vision.  

Erik’s journey into tattooing started in 2004. Shortly after serving in the Navy, he undertook a tattoo apprenticeship in Nacogdoches, Texas. Erik then went and got a Bachelor of Arts from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco (2010). He eventually migrated back to Texas where he tenured at Casey’s Tattoo Shop for four years, until April 2018 when he decided to migrated to Austin, Texas where he operated a private studio for almost seven years.

After relocating to the Midwest, Erik sought a space that matched his artistic values—professional, serene, and client-focused—and found his new creative home at Lash & Esthetic Studio. Here, he combines technical artistry with an exceptional client experience, transforming tattooing into a creative & deeply personal ritual.

 “I believe tattoo is a ritual, and that the experience is integral to the art—I perform a tattoo as much as I make or create it.”