Spotlight on Adam the Piercer: Piercing Specialist in Fort Collins You Should Know

Adam the Piercer doing his thing. Photo by Anthony Howard-Crow

At Solana Tattoo Company, we believe it matters who’s behind the needle. Piercings are deeply personal — from the aesthetic to the ritual — and our commitment to safe, professional body piercings in Fort Collins starts with experienced, passionate artists. That’s why today we’re shining a light on one of the best in the business: Adam the Piercer.

Known as “ATP” or “Adamthepiercer” (one word) by our team and clients (a nickname given to him during his apprenticeship nearly two decades ago), Adam is not only a Fort Collins piercing specialist, but he’s also a trusted guide, a meticulous craftsman, and an artist whose life journey led him straight to Solana. 

“I didn’t find piercing,” he says. “Piercing found me.”

Adam’s story is anything but ordinary, and so is the piercing experience he provides.

If you’ve been looking for a dedicated Fort Collins body piercing piercing specialist who offers expert knowledge, unwavering hygiene standards, and a truly customized approach to every piercing, Adam the Piercer is someone you need to know.

From East Houston to Fort Collins: Adam’s Piercing Journey

Adam the Piercer. Photo by BAM Photography

Adam’s story starts in east Houston, a city known for its grit, heat, and hustle. Raised in a tough neighborhood where art was his lifeline, Adam leaned into creativity early. By 13, he was a published poet and eventually went on to host poetry readings and serve as president of his school’s fine arts committee. Despite the challenges of his environment, Adam found refuge in self-expression.

He got his start in piercing through an unlikely chain of events. After working in jewelry sales under the mentorship of “Diamond Jim” — a Houston icon who taught him everything about jewelry quality, gem cuts, and presentation — Adam was pulled into piercing by his cousin, a tattoo studio owner. The goal: Keep Adam busy in the evenings after his day job and off the streets, where gang and drug activity were everywhere. Adam loved the new opportunity, and he jumped in blindly with gratitude and curiosity. 

His early training was raw, unfiltered, and intimidating. There was no formal apprenticeship. Adam was thrown into the lion’s den with minimal training, pressure to perform, about 10 different “mentors” at once, and barely the right equipment. It was a brutal sink-or-swim initiation into the piercing world. And against all odds, Adam swam.

Several years later, Adam attended a tattoo convention where he met Rob Hill, a renowned piercer who was showcasing his work while performing a sideshow act. Rob’s portfolio — multi-point piercings and high-concept work — was unlike anything Adam had ever seen. In that moment, Adam’s perspective shifted; he suddenly saw piercing as the true art form it is, with immense creative potential. It reawakened the same artistic pull Adam had felt as a kid writing poetry and painting. Piercing, he realized, was just a different kind of canvas. And he only just dipped into the palette.

Over time, Adam honed his skills studying with other piercers/tattooists in Houston and built a philosophy rooted in safety, education, and empowerment. After years of working in rough environments, managing studios, and even running his own tattoo and piercing shop inside a high-end art gallery with upscale clients (a far cry from where he began with a folding chair in a crowded lobby), he relocated his family to Colorado for better educational opportunities. 

He landed in Fort Collins with nothing but a piercing kit, a portfolio, and a purpose. 

When he walked into Solana, he knew he’d found home. 

A look inside Solana Tattoo Company. Photo by Cinesinner

“It’s the truest art space I’ve worked in in 20 years, not a chop shop like other studios,” he says. “Having the independent rooms and a strong focus on art. We give an experience — real people with real personalities that people can connect with — that’s art; art is about connection.”

Adam says what he enjoys most about Solana is working with younger clients, many of them students stepping into adulthood. He finds it rewarding to guide them through some of their first real decisions about self-expression in a safe, supportive environment. Likewise, he says he lives for the moments of golf with folks his age and older. 

“It’s a wonderful time for my art, because it really is all ages,” he says. “My older clients give me great happiness and fun times, too.” 

Now, as the lead piercer at Solana, Adam is redefining body piercing in Fort Collins. From autoclave-treated setups far exceeding county regulations and standards, to extensive client education sessions, and even high-end, custom-ordered jewelry offerings, Adam is raising the bar on what you can expect from a piercing studio. His consults are thorough, his process is clean to the top industry standards, and his jewelry selections rival high-end boutiques (without the extreme mark-ups).  

Adam started at the bottom of the bottom. Now, with nearly two decades of experience and hundreds of five-star reviews, Adam has earned his place as one of the most trusted names in body piercing in Colorado and beyond. 

What It’s Like to Get Pierced by Adam the Piercer

Adam the Piercer. Photo by Anthony Howard-Crow.

At Solana Tattoo Company, the piercing experience with Adam is worlds away from walk-in bargain shops or rushed services. It’s immersive, informative, and built entirely around you. Whether you're visiting for a simple ear piercing in Fort Collins or something more unique, expect the following:

• Consultation First: Every appointment starts with a thoughtful one-on-one conversation. Adam walks you through options, helps select the right placement and jewelry (implant-grade titanium, gold, or custom pieces), and explains healing timelines.

• Sterility and Safety Above All: Every piece of equipment is sterilized with an autoclave that is third-party spore tested. His tools, needles, gloves, and even the Q-tips are treated as medical materials and instruments. Adam changes gloves in an appointment more times than Colorado’s weather changes in a day. This is to avoid any potential contamination. Adam is well-trained in safe blood-borne pathogen handling.

• Art Meets Energy Exchange: With neuroscience-based calming techniques, curated music, and a deep respect for the history and ritual aspect of body piercing, Adam creates a space where anxiety melts away. He’ll ask you odd questions (“What kind of tree would you be today?”) or make jokes — not just for fun, but to shift your focus and calm the nervous system. Every moment is intentional.

• Custom Jewelry, Custom Experience: With a background in high-end jewelry sales (thanks, Diamond Jim!), Adam helps clients select unique pieces that match their anatomy, style, and budget. Solana carries rare cuts, gold, and specialty pieces you won’t find at your average local tattoo and piercing shop. It’s not every day that a body piercer also has experience working with fine gemstones and in elite art galleries.

• Aftercare + Follow-Up: Post-piercing, you’re sent home with clear aftercare instructions — and Adam’s personal number. Need a check-in? Free cleanings at 30, 60, or 90 days are standard. No healing questions are too small.

From nose piercings to full-spectrum body piercings, Adam delivers expert-level care rooted in decades of lived experience. This isn’t assembly-line piercing; it’s a true collaboration between artist and client. And for Adam, who grew up using art to find identity and escape chaos, that collaboration is everything.

That’s what inspires Adam the most. 

“Making people feel better about themselves was the best business decision I ever made,” he says. “This is my dream job. The future of body piercing at Solana is only limited by our imagination.”

What Clients Say 

5 Facts About Adam

1. Published poet at 13 – Adam’s creative streak started early, writing and performing poetry in East Houston.

2. Trained by “Diamond Jim” – He learned jewelry from a Houston legend before ever picking up a needle.

3. Sink-or-swim start – Thrown into piercing with almost no training, he had to figure it out fast or be cut.

4. Inspired by a sideshow piercer – A tattoo convention encounter showed him piercing could be true art.

5. Piercing kept him off the streets – His cousin gave him the chance to make art, and Adam made it count to escape street life.

Why Adam is a Standout Fort Collins Piercing Specialist

Adam the Piercer. Photo by BAM Photography

Adam isn’t just one of the most experienced body piercers in the city — one of the rare full-spectrum, speciality piercing professionals with advanced training. He’s also a storyteller, a teacher (CSU students have said he gives “Professor”), and advocate for elevating body modification as a respected art form. His work has been shaped by life in Houston’s grittiest tattoo shops, by mentorship from some of the best in the industry, and by a personal commitment to making others feel seen, heard, and beautiful.

At Solana, Adam trains the next generation of piercers while continuing to provide top-tier service to a growing base of loyal clients. His attention to detail, relentless drive to improve, and ability to connect with people make him the foundation of our piercing studio in Fort Collins.

Ready to Experience the Difference?

If you're searching for a Fort Collins piercing specialist who combines artistry, safety, and soul, you can’t find more passion and commitment to the profession than Adam the Piercer at Solana Tattoo Company. Whether it’s your first or fifteenth piercing, Adam is here to walk you through every step.

📍 Book your appointment today, browse Adam’s portfolio, or follow us on social for piercing education and behind-the-scenes looks at our local tattoo and piercing shop in Fort Collins. At Solana, body piercing is more than a service — it’s a shared ritual and extension of community, and we can’t wait to be part of yours. 

Come see why Solana Tattoo Company is the go-to piercing studio in Fort Collins, trusted by locals for safe, stylish body piercing experiences.