Interview
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Profile
September 7, 2022
Melody Methakul (@methcakes)
Interview
May 21, 2020
Yutaro (@warriorism)
We check in with Japanese artist Yutaro (@warriorism) during London’s Covid 19 lockdown and talk about his current thoughts and feelings of the global pandemic on the tattoo industry and home life.
Video
April 17, 2020
Romantic Tattoo Artist: Bruno Levy
Interview
February 13, 2020
Nadine Anderson (@Devlin_616)
Nadine Anderson is a tattoo collector, gradually blacking out her body in an organic and natural progression. Ed Crooks spoke to Nadine to find out more about the process.
Interview
January 30, 2020
Mark Lonsdale (@lonsdaletattoo)
Having moved with his wife to Australia, Mark Lonsdale has worked in many notable shops in Sydney. His varied oeuvre, spanning blackwork and color, avoids stylistic niche.
Interview
January 24, 2020
Massimo Gurnari (@massimogurnari)
Massimo Gurnari’s bold etching works have developed slowly since he began tattooing in a “private studio” in the corner of his house. Gurnari now works at DOA Tattoo Factory, set up by close friend Mirko Sata, as well as being a successful painter, amongst other things.
Interview
January 16, 2020
Johan Ulrich (@johantattoos)
Meet Johan Ulrich, a tattooist at Jack Browns Tattoo Revival, Virginia and toy designer. Here, Ed Crooks discusses with Johan the influences on his tattoo career and the journey to becoming a toy maker.
Interview
January 10, 2020
Martin (@martinsyslo)
Martin is tattooed, in a wheelchair, and smiles all the time. Photographer Tereza Koňaříková interviewed Martin about his accident, what his experience of being tattooed is like, and how he still feels limitless.
Documentary
December 23, 2019
TTTV Episode 1
TTTISM spoke to presenter of new show <i>TTTV</i>, Louie Jenkins, to find out some more about how the project came about and what his highlights are from Episode 1.
Interview
December 19, 2019
Tattooed Refugees by Rossinante and Olivier Marescaux
Rossinante and Olivier Marescaux aim to document those who are considered by society to be ‘outcasts’, and found themselves at a refugee camp. They documented the stories and tattoos of the people living there.
Interview
December 12, 2019
Stace Forand (@waterstreetphantom)
Heavily influenced by Japanese style, Stace Forand has developed a style that comes from a desire to strive for authenticity from deep within himself. Being self-taught, Forand discusses the importance of the close community around him, and the expanded horizons of other cultures and places.
Interview
December 5, 2019
Dan Sinnes (@dansin)
Interview
November 21, 2019
Jeroen Franken (@jeroenfranken)
Since first learning in the depths of the jungle in Borneo, Jeroen Franken has since owned several private studios and currently owns and works at Seven Seas Atelier with his wife Kim Anh.
Interview
November 19, 2019
Alina Ruda (@ruda_alina)
Member of tattoo collective Future Berlin, Alina Ruda was someone who was always drawing, before turning to tattooing. Ruda was disciplined in teaching herself, and her strikingly simple designs are at once fierce and humorous.
Interview
November 14, 2019
Rob Mopar (@rwmopar)
A widely traveled artist, Rob Mopar now owns and tattoos from Sacred Monkey Tattoo. From first being inspired by Navy tattoos, Mopar is now heavily influenced by Japanese style.
Bay Area Tattoo Convention
November 11, 2019
Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2019
As a proud sponsor, TTTISM is pleased to present a series of photos from the 2019 Bay Area Tattoo Convention.
Interview
November 7, 2019
Julim Rosa (@julimrosa)
Julim Rosa has spent most of her life moving around but has now settled in Berlin. Throughout her tattoo and contemporary art practice, Rosa has consistently questioned institution and convention.
Interview
November 1, 2019
Alba Rey (@inthenameofrey)
Seeking a different form of learning, Alba Rey travelled the world, developing her own style alongside experimentation with photography and painting with Indian ink.
Bay Area Tattoo Convention
October 7, 2019
Bay Area Tattoo Convention Retrospective
In anticipation of the 15th annual Bay Area Tattoo Convention, set to take place in late October of 2019, TTTISM highlights some of its articles on the convention to date.
Interview
September 30, 2019
Rita Salt
Rita Salt is a tattooer who struggled through a fear and disgust towards tattooing to become an artist who is boldly and playfully inspired by children’s drawings, and who values the tattooer–client interaction immensely.
TTT(+)
September 26, 2019
Body of Reverbs by Michele Servadio
In the second installation of our TTT(+) review of the artistic works of Michele Servadio, he tells us about the impetus behind his recent release, Body of Reverbs.
Interview
September 5, 2019
Rob Noseworthy (@robnoseworthy)
Rob Noseworthy began tattooing under the guidance of Albert Caine in 2005, eventually tattooing full time in 2006. Noseworthy discusses the fine line between influence and copying, and the importance of encouraging a younger generation of tattooers to be original and experimental.
Interview
September 5, 2019
Simon Ban (@squids.ink)
Simon Ban grew up surrounded by a creative family and after finally transitioning to tattooing full time two and a half years ago, Ban has been developing a style that combines traditional rules and layouts with new patterns and exciting placements.
Interview
August 29, 2019
Grace Neutral (@graceneutral)
Grace Neutral owns Femme Fatale studio in east London. Neutral pays gratitude to the inspiring women, femmes, and queer people she continues to be surrounded by. She discusses her book, <i>NEUTRAL</i>, to be published by TTTISM in September 2019.
Interview
August 21, 2019
Virginia Elwood (@virginiaelwood)
Virginia Elwood is a tattooist, fine artist, and co-owner of Saved Tattoo with her wife Stephanie Tamez. Elwood discusses her optimism towards the increasing accessibility and diversity of the tattoo world, which herself and her community champions at Saved Tattoo.
Interview
August 19, 2019
Saint Molotov
Saint Molotov discusses his latest zine project <i>Welcome 2 Paradise</i>, how he found his roots in tattoo culture through the support of his tattooer friends, and the influence of mysticism and occultism on his work.
Interview
August 15, 2019
Arminas Stanulevičius
Arminas Stanulevičius developed a skill for sharp lines during his time as an interior designer. Inspired by the darkness in the world, as well as his extensive travels, he’s an artist that utilizes both traditional and digital media in his work.
Tattooist
July 18, 2019
21×29.7
Parisian tattooist Joh (@21×29.7) tells TTTism about his self-taught beginnings as a tattooer. Now running a successful private studio some five years later, Joh is known for his experimental approach to (otherwise) iconic imagery.
Archive
July 9, 2019
Archive: Gakkin (@gakkinx) for TTTism Issue 3
This interview with Gakkin is excerpted from TTTism Issue 3.
Interview
July 8, 2019
Ryan Mettz (@ryanmettz)
We speak with Ryan Mettz, a Brooklyn-based tattooer working out of Greenpoint Tattoo Co.. Mettz’s clients come to him for his tasteful style, and leave with pieces that combine traditional aesthetics with modern imagery.
Interview
July 3, 2019
Nico Jacoby (@nicobone_)
Nico Jacoby’s take his highly conceptual blackwork tattoos around the world. It is clear to see strong influences from architecture and structural forms in the subversive mirroring of many of his designs,
Interview
June 26, 2019
Pride: Part 3
TTTism continues to champion the LGBTQ+ community, acknowledging the steps that have been taken towards inclusivity, and highlighting the distance we still need to go to ensure the safety of all members of the tattoo community.
Interview
June 26, 2019
Pride: Part 2
TTTism continues to celebrate the presence of the LGBTQ+ community, and recognise the hard work that still needs to be done to ensure anyone, no matter their identity, feels safe and empowered within the global tattoo community.
Interview
June 26, 2019
Pride: Part 1 (Queer Bod Mod Compass)
TTTism reached out to artists and studios to hear what the shape of the tattoo world is for LGBTQ+ people, and how they are remolding it. The first feature explores Queer Bod Mod Compass, launched by tattooist and studio manager Guik.
Interview
June 24, 2019
Clemens Hahn (@clemens_hahn)
Clemens Hahn is tattooist and shop owner at Truly Yours Tattoo in Mannheim, Germany. Hahn offers contemporary subject matter done in a traditional aesthetic.
Interview
June 20, 2019
Josh Stephens (@joshstephenstattoos)
Josh Stephens began his tattoo career building a strong foundation in an American Traditional style. Heavily inspired by music, contemporary art, and David Lynch, Stephens remains grateful for opportunities that break him out of his comfort zone.
Interview
June 19, 2019
Seyoon Kim (@sey8n)
Seyoon Kim speaks passionately about the hope she has for change in the tattoo culture of South Korea. Her joyful, cleanly executed tattoos bury into her clients’ stories, and are in stark contrast to the subversive portrayal of tattoos which is still dominant in her native country.
Archive
June 18, 2019
Archive: Rich Hardy (@rich_hardy) for TTTism Issue 2
An archived interview with tattooist Rich Hardy excerpted from TTTism Issue 2.
Interview
June 18, 2019
Madeleine Love (@mad_louie)
Madeleine Love began drawing from a young age, enamored with the possibilities of the natural world. Approaching her work with curiosity and playfulness, her tattoos are powerfully colored and gracefully executed.
Interview
June 17, 2019
Adam F (@iron.glacier)
Adam F is fairly new to the tattoo scene, tattooing for just over a year following a period more focused on his career as a fine artist. Moving into a new, expansive media, his CMYK color separations and vivid tattoos are distinctive and assured.
Interview
June 17, 2019
Denis (@dsmt)
Denis is a Ukrainian tattooist based in Kiev. He works in a strong graphical style, utilizing imagery adopted from cyberpunk and other dystopian aesthetics. In this interview, Denis tells us how he went from law school to a career in tattooing and more.
Interview
June 10, 2019
Herman IX (@gera_ix)
Herman IX’s tattoo practice is strongly rooted in his Russian heritage, often taking influences from his childhood. Herman developed a self-taught style, often featuring animals in unexpected positions and a shading style that resonates with traditional etchings.
Interview
June 10, 2019
Dane Nicklas (@tenderbrusselssprout)
Dane Nicklas is a Portland-based tattooist currently working at Good Stuff Tattoos. Nicklas’ work opts for the impact of minimal, graphical designs. He maintains a fidelity towards surrealism.
Interview
June 4, 2019
Martin Jahn (_martinjahn)
Martin Jahn has developed his skills by working at some of the best tattoo studios around the world. His tattoos are both striking and poetic, as he draws influence from both nature and architecture, harmonizing this dichotomy.
Interview
June 3, 2019
Henry Hablak (@hhablak)
Henry Hablak is a Philadelphia-based tattooist. His figural work is inspired by various historical, religious, and mythological referents, offering a unique sensibility within a saturated industry.
Interview
May 29, 2019
Spider (@spiderxdeath)
Spider is a tattooist based in Melbourne, Australia. His no-nonsense style is rooted in American Trad, amalgamated with influences from his wide-ranging travels and heavily laced with punk references.
Archive
May 29, 2019
Archive: Rhys Gordon Interviews Greg Ardron for TTTism Issue 2
Rhys Gordon interviews famed tattooist Greg Ardron in this feature excerpted from TTTism Issue 2.
Interview
May 27, 2019
Aron Dubois (@aronjohndubois)
We interview Los Angeles-based tattooist Aron Dubois, whose work combines folk art iconographies and elements of abstraction. Dubois describes his start as a tattooist as well as the impact that literature and philosophy have on his practice.
Interview
May 27, 2019
Michelle Wanhala (@mwanhala)
Michelle Wanhala works in Chicago, driven by the achievement of fulfilling her goal to make a living as an artist. Influenced by references from comic books to retro décor, Wanhala’s art also encompasses a multitude of media including sculpture, embroidery, and painting.
Collector
May 25, 2019
Karl Knight (@k_dylan)
We interview Karl Knight, Buyer at Autograph Menswear in Birmingham, UK. Knight gives us a breakdown of his growing collection of tattoos, which combine multiple visual styles and strategic placement.
Archive
May 22, 2019
Archive: The Lausanne Tattoo Convention for TTTism Issue 2
This interview between Sebastien Repond and Swiss tattooist Virus on the founding of the Lausanne Tattoo Convention is excerpted from TTTism Issue 2.
Interview
May 20, 2019
Tiago De Oliveira (@dongekotattooer)
We interview Porto-based tattooist Tiago de Oliveira, who works at and co-owns Heavy Handers Tattoo. De Oliveira’s work offers a compelling take on all things traditional, a consistent body of figural tattoos that maintain a penchant for realism.
Interview
May 16, 2019
James Tran (@visualamor)
James Tran is a San Diego-based tattooist who currently works at Full Circle Tattoo. He specializes in pieces incorporating dotwork and combines multiple illustrative styles.
Interview
May 13, 2019
Alexis Hepburn (@disintegrationxvx)
We interview Alexis Hepburn, a tattooist based on Australia’s Gold Coast. Hepburn’s work combines a traditional sensibility with techniques and imagery adopted from folk culture.
Profile
May 9, 2019
Dustin Barnhart (@dustinbarnhart)
Dustin Barnhart is a tattooist and co-owner of Berlin Tattoo in Kitchener, Ontario. Barnhart combines impactful imagery and hints of illusionism in a neo-traditional aesthetic. He describes his origins as a tattooist, life as a shop owner, and more.
Collector
April 3, 2019
Jessie “Juicy” Wells (@bruja_mota)
We speak with Jessie “Juicy” Wells, manager of Colorado’s Think Tank Tattoo and practicing health coach, about her impactful collection of figural tattoos.
Interview
March 14, 2019
Sebastian Kandinsky (@skandinsky)
We interview Sebastian Kandinsky, a French-born tattooist whose work updates traditional iconography through an innovative use of negative space and bi-color stippling.
Collector
February 25, 2019
Luca Cerlini (@lucasecretwood)
We interview Italian documentarist and commercial videographer, Luca Cerlini, about his extensive and symbolically rich collection of tattoos.
Interview
February 8, 2019
Andrew Stortz: Books Closed
We interview Andrew Stortz, the organizer, founder, and host of the exceptional podcast, Books Closed.
Interview
January 31, 2019
Chad Koeplinger on Hardcore Music: A Conversation With Ed Crooks
TTTism presents an interview between creator of the Still Life zine, Ed Crooks, and Nashville-based tattooist, Chad Koeplinger.
Interview
January 18, 2019
Luca Font (@lucafont)
We interview Luca Font, an Italian tattooist currently based in Milan whose colorful, experimental tattoos challenge categorization.
Interview
January 11, 2019
Ivan Antonyshev (@ivanantonyshevtattoo)
We interview Russian-born tattooist Ivan Antonyshev about his beginnings in the craft (in Indiana!) and his passion for traveling. Antonyshev, a resident at no fixed studio, currently tattoos around the world.
Bay Area Tattoo Convention
December 14, 2018
TTTISM Presents: The Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2018
Bay Area Tattoo Convention
December 3, 2018
Don Ed Hardy at the 2018 Bay Area Tattoo Convention
We are pleased to release a short video profile and interview with Don Ed Hardy on the occasion of the 2018 Bay Area Tattoo Convention.
Interview
November 9, 2018
David Schiesser: “Spectator Mode” Part II
In the second and final part of our series on David Schiesser’s recent exhibition, “Spectator Mode,” we speak with the artist and tattooist about surface transformations, representation, and the limits and affordances of the line.
Interview
November 6, 2018
Still Life 2: An Interview with Ed Crooks and Peter Falkous
We interview Ed Crooks, creator of the Still Life zine series, and Peter Falkous, the series’ publisher, about the circumstances behind the medium’s creation and the place of print within contemporary tattoo culture.
Shop Spotlight
October 23, 2018
Valentine’s Tattoo Co. (@valentinestattoo)
We interview tattooist and proprietor Shannon Perry about her Seattle-based shop, Valentine’s Tattoo Co..
Interview
October 18, 2018
Namiko (@namiko_moth22)
We interview Namiko (@namiko_moth22) of Hong Kong’s Alchemink. Namiko’s often monochromatic work challenges the boundaries between painting, illustration, and tattooing, blending styles and techniques to create abstract forms that are nonetheless highly structured.
Interview
October 4, 2018
Andrei Ylita (@ylitenzo)
We interview Ukraine-born Andrei Ylita about his stark, graphical style. While an increasing number of tattooists come to the craft from a background in graphic design, Ylita remains both a practicing tattooist and a working graphic designer–an interesting combination that informs the punctuative quality of his work.
Interview
September 21, 2018
Luca Ortis for TTTism
TTTism presents a video portrait of Luca Ortis alongside an interview with the London-based tattooist. Ortis’ discussion of his origins in the industry is complemented by images of rich, large-scale Japanese traditional tattoos.
Interview
September 4, 2018
Chingy Fringe (@chingyfringe)
We spotlight Chingy Fringe, an Australian tattooist currently based at Alfred Street Tattoo on the Gold Coast.
New Releases
August 30, 2018
FISK Gallery on David Schiesser’s “Spectator Mode”
We speak with co-curators of Portland’s FISK Gallery, Bijan Berahimi and Michael Spoljaric, about their thoughts on the gallery’s current exhibition, “Spectator Mode,” by artist and tattooist David Schiesser.
Interview
August 14, 2018
The Flash of Simon Bundgård (@simonbenhaard)
We interview Danish artist and aspiring tattooist Simon Bundgård about his growing collection of flash drawings.
Interview
August 7, 2018
Woojin Choi (@oozy_tattoo)
We interview Woojin Choi (@oozy_tattoo) about his self-made origins as a Korean tattooist. Choi’s unique style is contextualized by his time in university and ongoing passion for drawing.
Interview
August 2, 2018
Kane Navasard (@kanenavasard)
We interview Kane Navasard about his compelling oeuvre of fine line black and gray tattoos. Navasard’s practice appends eccentric motifs to masterfully executed and placed pieces.
Interview
July 27, 2018
Dan Ryan (@________sadboy_________)
We interview tattooist Dan Ryan of Melbourne’s Hidden Moon Tattoo. Ryan’s tattoos are informed by a contemporary visual language, equal parts playful and precise.
Collector
July 16, 2018
Josh Deane (@joshdeaneofficial)
Melbourne-based model, tattoo collector, and creative Josh Deane explains the inspiration behind his impactful work alongside a stunning visual portrait filmed by Justin Hart.
New Releases
May 30, 2018
SEXINESS: Rituals, Revisions, and Reconstructions
Discipline Press founder Tamara Santibañez is interviewed about her new anthology, SEXINESS: Rituals, Revisions, and Reconstructions, published in collaboration with Sang Bleu.
Interview
May 29, 2018
Damien J Thorn (@damien.j.thorn)
French Tattooist Damien J Thorn is interviewed by James Musker about the unique pieces resulting from his current, “Japanese period” in tattooing. The two also discuss Thorn’s development as an artist and the impetus behind Thorn’s recently opened studio in Biarritz, Electric Dragon Tattoo.
Interview
May 9, 2018
Alex Reinke (@holyfoxtattoos)
Ed Crooks interviews Alex Reinke (@holyfoxtattoos), an expert in traditional Japanese tattooing. The two discuss Reinke’s recent travels, his family’s history in Japan, his design process, and the development of his practice over two decades of tattooing.
Interview
March 13, 2018
Ross K. Jones (@rosskjones)
In this feature, San Francisco-based Ross K. Jones of Idle Hand Tattoo tells us about his main influences as a tattooist, his passion for traveling, and his vision for the future of tattooing.
Collector
January 29, 2018
Hayden Gan De Mari (@haydengan)
We are pleased to present the formidable collection of Hayden Gan De Mari, a tattoo collector and menswear buyer located in Fremantle, Australia. Hayden discloses the ways in which his tattoos serve to both increase his self-esteem and realize the image he has had of himself from a very young age.
Profile
January 26, 2018
H.B. Nielsen (@hbnielsentattoo)
We profile H.B. Nielsen, a Swedish tattooist whose monochromatic imagery and precise use of stippling creates work that’s worth watching out for.
Collector
January 22, 2018
José Prager (@joseprager)
José Prager is a Mexican tattoo collector and business owner who splits his time between Mexico City and Hollywood. Prager details his collection of punctuative, black tattoos and the process of transforming his body.
Collector
January 8, 2018
Ross Tulloch
We interview Ross Tulloch about his collection of colorful, (neo)traditional tattoos done by artists such as Fergus Simms and Steve Boltz. Tulloch describes his process of discovering and following the development of new artists and the ways in which his collection has allowed him to have a more comfortable relationship with his body.
Profile
January 4, 2018
Ryan Shaffer
We profile Ryan Shaffer of East River Tattoo, Brooklyn. Shaffer discusses his origins in San Diego and his many influences–in addition to the production of his first tattoos, done as a five-year-old with washable Crayola markers.
Documentary
January 3, 2018
Apro Lee by 60 Second Docs
We are pleased to present a short video profile created by 60 Second Docs on South Korean tattooist, Apro Lee. In this (eponymous) 60-second feature, Apro details the risks of tattooing without a medical license in his country.
Documentary
January 1, 2018
The Russian Tattoo Tour
The Russian Tattoo Tour is both a travelogue and a documentary created by tattooist Herman IX on his journey through that territory. This feature is accompanied with an interview detailing the context behind the creation of the video, as well as Herman’s thoughts on the world of Russian tattooing.
Collector
January 1, 2018
Tom Kiblawi
In this collector profile, Tom Kiblawi tells us about building his collection of minimalist tattoos from some of London’s most notorious DIY tattooers. Tom details the night of his first piece, the monumental value of his collection, and the importance of being tattooed by friends.
Interview
December 26, 2017
Big Meas @ Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2017
Big Meas speaks with us as part of the Bay Area Tattoo Convention Special Issue. We chat with him about his background in graffiti and pinstriping, his many travels to conventions, and his thoughts on the Bay Area Convention.
Interview
December 26, 2017
Taki Kitamura @ Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2017
Co-organizer of the Bay Area Tattoo Convention, Taki Kitamura, discusses the history of the convention, some of its many notable moments, and its place in the world of tattooing more broadly as part of our Special Issue.
Interview
December 26, 2017
Matt Arriola @ Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2017
Matt Arriola speaks with us as part of the Bay Area Tattoo Convention Special Issue. Arriola talks about his wide-ranging influences, his vision of the future of tattooing, and his time at Bay Area.
Interview
December 24, 2017
Matt Andersson
We interview Swedish tattooer Matt Andersson, whose work both pays homage to and reimagines traditional iconography. Andersson tells us about his serendipitous beginnings in Thailand, opening his own shop, and his continual experimentation with the craft.
Collector
December 21, 2017
Maxime Dalix
Shop manager and tattoo collector, Maxime Dalix, shows us her considerable work–done almost exclusively in black and grey.
Collector
December 17, 2017
Grant McKenzie
London-based tattoo collector Grant McKenzie shares some interesting stories about his eclectic array of work, emphasizing the place of tattooing in travel, community, and the logistical struggles inherent in arriving at the studio in one piece.
Collector
December 12, 2017
Samuel Ross
We interview designer Samuel Ross of the emerging fashion label, A-COLD-WALL*. Ross speaks on the inspiration behind his tattoo collection, its relation to fashion design, and the different forms that his creative impulse takes.
Interview
December 10, 2017
Nomi Chi @ Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2017
We interview tattooist Nomi Chi about their artistic background, their current tattoo practice in Vancouver, and their time at the 2017 Bay Area Tattoo Convention.
Collector
November 28, 2017
Prayers
Photographer and tattooist Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev interviews Leafar Seyer of San Diego-based band, Prayers. Coupled with this interview are striking photos of the band taken in New York by Gezlev.
Interview
November 21, 2017
Cokney
We speak with Paris-based tattooer Cokney about his DIY origins, his art practice, and his brushes with the French legal system.
Video
November 10, 2017
@dsmt: Tattooing in a Bus Depot
We share a video of tattooist Denis (@dsmt) executing an electric tattoo in a Ukrainian bus yard. We interview Denis about his work, his thoughts on tattooing in Ukraine, and any other eccentric locations he may have in mind for his next tattoo video.