More Than Ink: The Story of AJ Miller
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An artist shaped by struggle, driven by purpose, and fueled by expression.
🪼 Jellyfish Fact:
Jellyfish have no brain, heart, or bones—yet they’ve survived for over 500 million years. They adapt, endure, and keep moving forward… much like the stories we share here.
The Jellyfish Times Interview: AJ Miller
Q: For readers meeting you for the first time, who is AJ Miller?
A: Hey there everyone 👋 nice to introduce myself, who is AJ Miller?
Well... I am 45, so I was born in 1980 which was an awesome time to be a kid, 80s cartoons, movies and music shaped my style and imagination.
I’m a single custodial parent to my 14 year old son. I have 3 sons and two step kids so ive raised 5 kids total.
I’ve been a lifetime artist and have been tattooing for 20 years now. I’m just a passionate creator who's interests are art, science, poetry, philosophy, and archeology.
Q: You were born in Oxford, England and now live in Sidney, Ohio—what’s that journey been like?
A: Yes I was born in Oxford England in 1980, I moved to the United States at the age of 9 because my father was an Airforce mechanic who worked for Lockheed Martin on top secret black opps projects. I have fond memories of sitting in the cockpit of the sr71 blackbird as a child.
Anyways the transition from England to America was quite a change as we flew into the New York Airport my first glimpse of America was the Statue of Liberty from a plane window.
Getting used to different countries and customs was interesting to say the least, mainly because of the difference in foods and availability of consumer goods.
England doesn't have shopping malls they have castles and history from medieval times, and then didn't have access to so many food options as Americans do.
Small differences in language are funny to me now. A cigarette is called a fag, a car trunk is called the boot, and they drove on the opposite side of the road.
Q: What led you to pursue art, and when did it first become important to you?
A: My grandfather (mums dad) was a published comic artist and war veteran.
He was the catalyst that fueled my curiosity of art and my journey.
As a child I would ask him to draw me things during family visits to the countryside of Botley he would squiggle half a shape of a piece of paper and send me away until I turned the random shape into something.
Realistically it's an inherent and God given gift, being an artist is just a part of my genealogy and DNA.
Q: You mentioned being homeless during college in downtown Cincinnati—can you walk us through that time in your life?
A: Pheewww yes, I have been destitute or homeless for the majority of my adult life and have delt with some serious financial and economic struggles.
I wanted to improve the quality of my children's lives, so I sought out and applied for the fine art graphic design course at a private art school in downtown Cincinnati once known as Antonelli college on east 7th st. in hopes it would lead to a better income.
All in, I packed a suitcase and showed up at the schools front doors to register for the classes. For some reason I always thought colleges had dorms for students like in the movies... that wasn't the case here, there were no dorms or housing for students. So with my suitcases in hand I sat on it outside as I realized that my ambitious goal was going to be a lot more difficult than anticipated.
As the realization of being homless dawned on me after registering for school I sought refuge a few blocks away at the notoriously hard drop in center in Over-the-Rhine (OTR).
Q: What was going through your mind during those moments, and what kept you pushing forward?
A: I can't fully express my feelings without profanity on exactly how I felt or what was going through my mind at that moment, I just knew it was something I had to endure to gain a better life for my sons. It felt... heavy is the best way to describe what I was feeling.
Q: How did you go from that situation to graduating with honors and a 3.8 GPA?
A: That my friends is the story, now homless and enrolled in college it became apparent to the staff of the school what I was going through.
I recall drafting a piece of art next to a homeless man with turrets syndrome which his shaking the table made drawing straight lines kind of difficult.
I recall so many fights where shoes were taken off of people's feet in the night, drug addicts smashing beer bottles across a man's face while his face peeled back, and almost had a man stab me in my throat over my bed.
I recall one night they had no room, and I slept outside during the winter.
I found refuge on the roof of a parking garage and used roof tiles as a blanket honestly at that moment in the bitter cold i wanted to die.
Ultimately the staff gave me a job as front desk security for the school, after I closed and locked the doors for the night, I would lock myself in the cafeteria bathroom to sleep on the floor until morning came and I opened the schools doors.
I guess my struggles made me push myself harder than anyone else, it led to my artwork winning every single 1st place blue ribbon art show award they had during my time there and aimed for nothing less than perfection in my homework and grades.
Q: What did being inducted into Alpha Beta Kappa mean to you personally?
A: 🤔 being inducted into Alpha Beta Kappa honor society at the moment of graduating felt like the acclimation of my hardships was the cost. I felt... relief and accomplished.
Q: How would you describe your artistic style and what you create?
A: My artistic style is a combination of pop art, surrealism, realism, graffiti, airbrushing, graphic design, comic book, traditional tattoo designs and 80s nostalgic cartoons.
I create custom tattoo designs for clients per requests, paint murals for businesses, paint canvases for art galleries, and have applied it to products like t shirts.
Q: Does your past—especially your struggles—show up in your art today?
A: Oh absolutely, thats the carzy part right... as an artist that has delt with so much emotional pain and economic struggles that is definitely a dominant factor in my artwork as its my soul expressing the turmoil through my life's experiences.
Q: What emotions or messages do you hope people take away from your work?
A: My artwork conveys all my emotions and life experiences. It's just my soul speaking to the world through paint and inks. If my art makes you feel anything at all I've done my job as an artist.
Q: You mentioned building friendships with celebrities over your 20-year career—how did those connections come about?
A: After college I gained a tattoo apprenticeship with Roy Pennington at Roy's Art Studio in Mason, Ohio.
I pumped his gas at a full serve gas station that i was working at during this time, he was friends to Ed Hardy and other trail blazers of the tattoo industry. Most importantly was one of the 1st tattoo studios in Ohio.
During the 1st wave of covid lock down I began creating a portrait of Jared Leto's joker, I posted it online on Facebook in a art group and tagged him in it. He responded, and it let to a memorable phone call from him, and we became good friends with many phone calls.
I did the same thing with other celebrities and have met and gained friendships with celebrities like Terrence Howard, he was super cool, classy, and highly intelligent.
Q: What’s one memorable interaction or moment that stands out from those experiences?
A: 😆 uhhhh well during a tattoo convention I smoked a massive Doobbie the size of a baby arm with Corey Miller, Good Time Charlie, and Gordo Smeed.
Q: Looking back, what would you say to your younger self during that time of homelessness?
A: Man... uhhh I'd say to myself... without any struggle what would you even have to express to the world? It's a painful thing that must be endured to express your sorrow to the world through your art.
Q: What advice would you give to someone currently struggling but trying to pursue their passion?
A: Let's see... I would say that if your create for the sake of creation and passion, not recognition you're on the right path. If your intention is validation and notoriety then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
The struggle is part of the process and gives credibility to your purpose. Use your pain and struggles as fuel to drive you forward.
Q: What does success mean to you now compared to back then?
A: I think in the past I measured success by material possessions, today I do not. The day I renounced material wants is the day I gained everything I wanted.
Q: Favorite piece you’ve ever created?
A: Honesty I don't have a specific favorite one.
I will say this though, each piece I've created feels like I gave birth to a child and like your children you love them each equally but the differences in each one is what makes them unique and special in their own ways.
Q: One word that describes your journey?
A: WTF??? 😅😅😅
Q: Coffee or energy drinks while creating?
A: Monster energy drinks are my fuel, my kidneys are paying the price 😆
Q: Dream collaboration?
A: Uhhhh? I would like to do a collaboration with DJ Tambe and Gian Karle from one block art studio.