Born Kisu Kim, known professionally as BK, taught himself tattooing and began his career in South Korea in 2005. Though black-and-gray tattooing originated in the West, he found inspiration in the legendary Mark Mahoney and dark-art tattooists Paul Booth and Robert Hernandez, shaping the path that would define his work.
After devoting much of his life in Korea, BK relocated to Southern California in 2023 and became a permanent artist at Ganga Tattoo in West Hollywood. His client roster includes NFL players Odell Beckham Jr and Sauce Gardner, soccer player Vinícius Jr, and rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Arcángel. Yet even while working with celebrities, BK values meaningful moments and shared emotions. Before picking up a tattoo machine, he listens to each client’s ideas, which often reflect family, experiences, culture, or traditions. These personal stories draw him to tattooing—they reveal human blueprints, and no two are alike.
BK’s style is marked by a heavy application of black ink, giving it a dark edge with contrast, fine-line details, and white highlights for a finishing pop. His subjects are extremely diverse, ranging from dragons and tigers to portraits of family and pets to sacred imagery. He has also made tributes to painters such as Salvador Dalí and Vincent van Gogh. One example is the Van Gogh back piece shown above, which features one of the painter’s famous self-portraits and the 1890s oil on canvas “Wheatfield with Crows.” This artwork required 10 to 12 sessions to finish. Reflecting on his process, BK says, “I enjoy tattooing large back pieces most because I can see the composition as one complete artwork.” He typically uses 3RL–5RL needles for thin lines and outlines, and 7M–9M needles for larger areas and shading.
Many see only BK’s finished tattoos online, but few witness the dedication behind the long hours and multiple sessions. BK relentlessly seeks knowledge, experiments with ideas and methods, and strives for growth. Beyond his professional life, he remains reserved and introspective, spending most of his free time at home, occasionally traveling or exercising to break his routine.
Photos © BK