“I need to keep life interesting, always experiencing something new.” Hungarian artist Balazs Bercsenyi, of New York’s iconic Bang Bang Tattoo, has an insatiable appetite for exploration. “I’m a Sagittarius, so there’s a lot of fire in me,” he says with a warm smile, sipping on a cappuccino. “You could say there’s a spirit of wanderlust and curiosity in my work.” Abstract and realistic elements, when combined, can express something conceptual, even spiritual, not so literal. “I’m not thinking when I design. It’s intuitive and spontaneous. I just listen to my gut.”

When asked what’s next for his young career, he perks up with vigor. “I have three main focuses right now: tattooing, temporary tattoos, and building a new fashion line. I also want to sell prints. For me, it’s good to keep changing and evolving. You don’t get bored that way.”

Photos © Bang Bang Tattoo