Tattoo artist Kurt Staudinger creates intense portraits that visually pop from the skin. The realistically-rendered pieces utilize a soft, diffused approach that adds an eerie quality to the subjects’ personas. Their glassy eyes pierce us with a knowing gaze, as if they’re about to reveal a dark, hidden secret. Staudinger remains quiet about his characters, however, giving us no context about who they are or what they’re up to—this only fosters a sense of mystery about them that you could ponder for the rest of your life.

Photos © Kurt Staudinger