Nick Fierro – A Natural Connection with Sacred Geometric, Ornamental, and Blackwork Tattooing

Nick Fierro, the proud owner of Algorithm Tattoo and Fine Arts in East Islip, NY, has honed his craft and developed a unique specialization in sacred geometry, blackwork, and ornamental tattooing. He sat down for a discussion with us to discuss his road to this unique style and his approach to delivering intricate pieces that blend abstract forms with deep meaning and symbolism. 

So Nick, tell us about your journey into tattooing?

I started apprenticing back in 2009 in Long Island, New York, so it’s been around 15, 16 years now. Now I run a private studio called Algorithm Tattoo and Fine Arts. It's a space designed for complete focus—no phones, no guests—just pure concentration on the artwork, free from distractions. I’ve worked in walk-in shops before, where you're constantly juggling greeting people and answering phones. I knew if I ever had my own place, I wouldn't want that.

As for how I got into ornamental and geometric tattooing, it just spoke to me creatively—it’s precise and intricate, and it allowed me to express my style in a really unique way

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What drew you to sacred geometry and ornamental designs?

I’ve always been drawn to the design for the aesthetic of it. I went to school for graphic design, and with my mom being a graphic designer and my dad an architect, that creative influence has been a part of my life from the start. When I discovered sacred geometry, something just clicked. Before that, I was dabbling in everything—neo-traditional, realism, color realism, color portraiture, and even my own spin on Japanese styles, though I was never formally trained in those. But sacred geometry? It made sense right away.

With other styles, I’d often struggle to come up with ideas, but with geometry, it just came naturally—and still does. I design all my pieces the day of and my clients play a big part in the style and design itself. After the consultation with the client, I like to interview the client on the day and ensure that, even though the work is abstract, there's a part of them in the work. I don’t know if it’s experience or just intuition, but I feel a strong connection with my clients, and I’m able to interpret what they want while adding my own twist to deliver something beyond their expectations. Even if it’s abstract symbols, I want to create something that they can connect with—something that feels like it’s always been a part of them.

Corey Divine and Dillon Forte were big influences — their work really resonated with me. I found myself asking, 'How is that even done?' That curiosity led me to deep dive into drawing patterns and mandalas by hand. Back then, the software to create these intricate designs didn’t really exist, so I relied entirely on hand drawing. I’m a very visual person—once I see something, I’ll keep working at it until I get it exactly where it needs to be.

What techniques do you use to deliver a meaningful experience for your clients?

Since I don’t draw anything in advance, I take measurements of my client's anatomy and scan them into the computer. Then I design everything based on those exact measurements, especially if they have existing tattoos. I’ll create a mold of the body part by wrapping an arm, for example, in saran wrap—then scan it section by section before starting the design process. Once I’ve spoken with the client, we’ll dive into what they want. Even if they just say, ‘Do your thing,’ I like to ensure there's a personal element in the design. For example, if you want something to represent your family, let’s talk about it. We can make it subtle—maybe your birthday is in October, so I’ll work a 10-pointed mandala into the piece. It’s all about meaningful symbolism while ensuring the piece looks amazing.

I’ve been doing this long enough that I can avoid potential obstacles. Even if I don’t know exactly what the design for the top of an arm will be, I ensure there’s space to build on. I’m booked a year out, and sometimes clients change their ideas on the day they come in, so I like to give them options and a great experience.

When it comes to intricate designs like this, too much detail and information can crowd the overall look. My goal is to balance the story and symbolism, even if it’s abstract, while ensuring the tattoo looks amazing.

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What tooling and tattoo techniques do you use?

I use rotary machines and a variety of different needles. I’m always experimenting because there are so many companies pushing the boundaries with new needle designs. With an abstract style, you can really get creative. There are countless needle groupings, and the innovations are exciting—it opens up possibilities for things I’ve never tried before.

For instance, with dotwork or patterns, you can create different effects or textures. I often use bug pin liners, which leave a bunch of individual dots. Or sometimes, I’ll slow down the machine to do a shading technique that leaves a trail of dots, giving a smoother texture. I even combine those techniques to get a unique look.

Every artist has a unique style that is hard to put into a box. How would you explain your style?

Before focusing on my style, I did a bit of everything, which really helped me grow as an artist. Even though I didn’t love working in a walk-in shop, it gave me valuable experience because I worked across so many different styles. 

I’d say my style is rooted in sacred geometry, but it’s a mix of neo-Japanese, neo-traditional, and realism as well. I like to blend all those influences because I’ve had experience in each. I want to incorporate everything I know into the piece.

You could call my style geometric, ornamental blackwork, but it’s more than that because I love so many different styles. The only thing I don’t really do is biomechanical—it’s just not how my brain works, or maybe I haven’t spent enough time with it yet. I like to mix all those influences into my work—so it’s not just sacred geometry.

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How would you describe ornamental in 20 words or less?

Ornamental art offers a unique way to express your story or enhance your body with creativity and personal style.

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Book with Nick now or explore the other incredible tattoo artists on Co:Create.