SANTOS TORREALBA:
ZANTORU
000000000000STUDIO
@THESHAPEOFAMACHINE
AN ARTIST COMPELLED BEYOND
BORDERS AND LIMITS.
Laying the sketch
Santos is a special kind of artist—and this is coming from one career artist to another.
I have studied illustration, graphic design, and visual theory for over twelve years, honing my own understanding of the world through technical discipline, artistic vision, and deeply held aesthetic values.
I met Santos by chance through an Instagram DM. On a whim, I reached out to the stylistic master known as @zantoru, inquiring about the execution of a large custom tattoo based on one of my original illustrations. He responded almost immediately. From the first exchange, his creative energy was evident—focused, fluid, and generous.
It quickly became clear that we shared a similar, thoughtful approach to design. Santos was more than willing to collaborate, helping me refine and resolve the final form of the drawing I had sent him. From there, the process moved naturally into booking the session.
After just a couple of weeks of back-and-forth, we set a date. I met him at his studio just off Yonge Street—accessible through an alleyway, tucked deep into the core of Toronto’s busiest downtown corridor.
Rain was falling heavily when I arrived, but we wasted no time getting to work—or into conversation. We decided to take on the ribs, committing to a large, heavy black design. After two grueling sessions, the piece was complete—and in the process, a friendship was formed.
Santos possesses a rare creative energy, one that genuinely inspired me to continue growing into my own practice with the same level of conviction and fearlessness he brings to his journey.
Special Thanks to Santos, and each beautiful human being who was willing to canvas their work
for this shoot at Zero Studio.
Growing into the
ink pot.
"I am a part of the Venezuelan Diaspora , born and raised.
This August marks 10 years since I emigrated to Canada.
In the last decade Toronto became my home , I moved from being a grocery clerk at a supermarket, to taking my art to over 40 different cities & 5 different countries, and countless willing bodies
I can’t help but to feel a major cycle ending in my life , an another one starting where mi vision and tools are amplified.
I am grateful for every life that I’ve come into contact through art,
Even though my naturally mysterious demeanour might indicate otherwise.
"I want to remind all the young artist out there that upon the sensation of not fitting anywhere shall emerge the revelation of creating your own platform , this motion will be guided entirely by your intuition."
ZERO STUDIO WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.
" The foundation and the character started developing in 2020, long before we had the space.Back then circumstantially I became a part of a visual wave of tattooers generated by the covid virus, what we had in common? We worked from home, the government forbid tattooing and it was one of the last services to get reinserted into “normal” life, professional studio tattooers went out of business which gave the underground genre a bit of an advantage at the moment, it was at that time when i met Kyle ( AKA @tattoosbuytime ) in Montreal with whom later at the end of 2022 would open the doors -by appointment only - for people that were looking for the refined decentralized work that we were producing . We are both a big influence in the current state of the underground tattoo scene in Toronto."
Zero studio was an opportunity to create a sustainable community and provide platform for young artist that aligned with the vision to elevate their work; I carefully choose every member of the team.
"The influences for the functionality blueprints of the space were drawn from experiences with other private studios were I tattooed when I guested outside of the city , perhaps the biggest influence is my friend Subdidi ink in Vancouver , the first time I walked into his space I thought , Toronto needs this energy.
I put a part of my soul into the space ,and watched it grow like a seed that becomes a three.
The team grew quickly from 2 to 10 , and we defined it as a tattoo collective. Within a year we were attracting guest artist from all over the country , the novelty of the space travelled around quickly , on this sort of secretive world that we figure in we successfully generated a huge curiosity and desire to come guestspot in Toronto.
Fast forward into the future I no longer manage the studio, I had to make a decision and put into action my desire for travelling and experiencing different cultures , introducing my art around the globe and finding those people that want to carry it forever in every city I visit. I’m proud to say zero is in good hands...
"it’s beautiful to see how a personal vision became an ecosystem- a creative hub where my peers carry the culture forward."
...May my tattoos accompany you like
a talisman till your last breath”
-Santos (Zantoru) Torrealba
the gallery of a day
