Image via Complex Original
It's not exactly news that the tattoo world has changed. No longer do we live in a society where the only ink we see are butterfly tramp stamps or "No Ragrats" chest pieces à la We're the Millers. Tattoos have increasingly been accepted as a legitimate art form around the world, and accordingly, the number of young, up-and-coming artists out there has been growing. With this increase, there's also been a rise in the creativity and sheer talent displayed by these artists. Ranging from those who specialize in hyperrealistic, 3D-like portraits to the rising masters of traditional Japanese tattooing, here are 15 New Tattoo Artists to Have on Your Radar.
Kamil Czapiga
Location: Katowice, Poland
Polish illustrator and tattoo artist Kamil Czapiga cites nature, Slavic folklore, and spirituality as some of his main inspirations. The young artist has been garnering attention for his meticulous use of pointillism, or dotwork, which he does exclusively in black ink.
Location: Zaporizhia, Ukraine
This young and relatively unknown Ukrainian artist is soon to make a name for himself with his brilliant displays of linework and dotwork. Petrov's Instagram reveals his fascination with architecture and geometry, which visibly influence his tattoo designs.
Location: Berlin and Budapest
Originally from Budapest, Ka Ta started out studying textiles and furniture design, but her love of illustration eventually led her to tattoos. She works primarily with black and blue ink and enjoys contrasting loose, organic forms with more linear and geometric designs.
Location: Krakow, Poland
A jack of all trades, Sherbakov also happens to be a graphic designer, illustrator, and painter. His specialty lies in small, occult-like tattoos notable for their intricate detail, bold lines, and the occasional pop of vibrant color.
Location: Brooklyn
The Parisian-born printmaker, painter, fashion designer, and tattoo artist draws inspiration from his love for hip-hop music and Japanese anime to create his whimsical designs. A master of loose, flowing linework, SupaKitch is renowned for his skill with feathers, fur, and script.
Logan Bramlett
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Bramlett formally trained as a painter and illustrator before making the switch to tattoo design. The young newcomer is known for his impressive versatility in tattoo styles, ranging from black dotwork to art nouveau-esque designs. He professes that his favorite style to work in, however, is realism using gray washes of ink.
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
The Portuguese artist is known for her instantly recognizable style, featuring curvy, sketchy lines that make normally static images come to life. Her mastery in organic forms makes her highly sought after for animal and nature tattoos.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Eich cites the “orderly chaos” of nature as his main inspiration, and his work reflects a love for the contrast between natural elements—like animals and geography—with more geometric, angular designs. Eich is also known for his brilliant use of color, which lends his designs a kind of vitality few other artists can imitate.
Location: Richmond, Va.
Co-owner of the Ghostprint Gallery in Virginia, Duskin is known for her dreamy, watercolor-like tattoos. She describes her aesthetic as being “deferential to the body's form” and accordingly, her works—particularly her floral tattoos—blend seamlessly with the natural contours of human anatomy.
Location: Milan
Pietro Sedda has been making waves with his “melancholic,” surrealist tattoos, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the Italian artist. He first started tattooing 15 years ago out of pure financial necessity, despite initially hoping to be a fashion designer. Now, however, Sedda has fully embraced his talent as a tattoo artist—and so has the rest of the world. He is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after artists in Europe.
Location: Royersford, Pa.
For those unafraid of color, Nick Keiser is your man. The Pennsylvania-based artist is quickly gaining a loyal following for his bold and vibrant aesthetic. His love for video games is reflected in his punchy, graphic novel-inspired designs.
Location: Isesaki, Japan
Horimasa is quickly establishing himself as the standard in traditional Japanese tattooing, an ancient technique that involves painstakingly applying the ink by hand. He is known for his clean lines and immaculate attention to shading, as well as his extensive knowledge of traditional Japanese motifs and ukiyo-e prints.
Gordon Patterson
Location: Livingston, Scotland
Despite only having been in the industry for two years, Patterson is already making a name for himself with his hyperrealistic tattoos. The Scottish artist's brilliant use of shading gives his designs a lifelike, almost 3D aesthetic.
Location: Newcastle, England
Chambers' specialty lies in smooth, watercolor-like tattoos in richly saturated hues. Her whimsical style lends her designs an almost playful and animated aesthetic.
Apro Lee
Location: Seoul, Korea
Lee hails from South Korea, where tattoos are technically illegal unless done by licensed medical doctors. This hasn't stopped him from pursuing his love for tattoo design, however, nor his steady stream of loyal clients and followers. Lee has become highly sought after for his distinctive blackwork, which includes bold lines and heavy stippling. He is especially known for his designs using traditional Korean symbols like tigers and magpies. Despite the less-than-ideal situation for tattoo artists in South Korea, Lee has enjoyed warm receptions as a guest artist in cities like Rome, Barcelona, and New York.
