Nia Sotto
She/Her
Piercer
APP Business Member
Fakir Comprehensive Piercing Intensive, 2022
Gemological Institute of America AJP Program, 2020
University of Chicago B.A. 2014 (Comparative Human Development)
Thu, Sat by appointment only
I have been a piercing enthusiast my entire life (in fact, I decided in the first grade that I would someday have seven piercings per ear—at least!), but my professional involvement in the industry officially began in 2018 when I started as first a jewelry specialist and eventually a piercing apprentice at Identity Body Piercing in Chicago, IL. In February 2020, I joined Luxe as a full-time piercer. I have been a member of the Association of Professional Piercers since 2019 and have attended every annual APP conference since then. I’m an alum of the Fakir Comprehensive Piercing Intensive, the Gemological Institute of America, and the College of the University of Chicago. Piercing has given me many opportunities to travel; I have guest spotted at UpRise Tattoos in Warrenville, IL, Gamma Piercing in Ann Arbor, MI, Infinite Body Piercing in Philadelphia, PA, and Rockstar Piercing in both its Boston, MA and Providence, RI locations.
Pre-piercing, I worked in a number of areas of social sciences research, so I’ve always been drawn to interdisciplinarity—holding many lenses through which to view and explore the world. I feel that piercing truly embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary knowledge, and, for me, very much coheres my interests in health/medicine, culture, and adornment in both a holistic and extremely rewarding way. Here I have a space to learn about everything from wound healing to gemology, ritual to anatomy, photography to microbiology, and, honestly, it’s just the best. It is an absolute joy and honor to help clients realize their most genuine selves. So…let’s figure out something really cool together! I look forward to working with you.
❖
Favorite gemstones: Rose quartz, chalcedony, rainbow moonstone, labradorite
Favorite piercings: This changes all the time! Conch, eyebrow, vertical helix, high nostrils, double and triple flats
