Tattoo artist Nik Square has us seeing stars. In his surreal blackwork body art, he combines elements of the galaxy with our civilization. Cats, flowers, and statues collide with constellations and planets—but it often appears that the universe is consuming its host. The blackness of cosmos and the scale of planets like Saturn strip away […]
Tag: Blackwork
Dark Pop Art Portrait Tattoos by Andrey Volkov
Darker than Lichtenstein, more surreal than Warhol, tattooer Andrey Volkov retrofits ’60s pop with the spirit of 2017. His screenprint-esque silhouettes are coming unraveled, exhausted and alone. The dotwork may mimic halftone comic strips, but the groupings are looser, skewed and uneasy. Sometimes he even shatters the portrait itself, letting eyes and ears just float […]
Abstract Tattoos and Feminist Spaces: Katakankabin Interview
Katakankabin (“Kat” for short) is a tattoo artist working in an experimental style she calls “custom black lines.” Animals, plants, and topographic outlines are abstracted into undulating forms that merge with the contours of the body. Her work is an expression of intangible energies, such as movement and emotion. Having traveled extensively, Kat currently works […]
Tattooing Without Rules: Interview with Frank Carrilho
Scene360 has a particular appreciation for the work of Brazilian-born tattoo artist Frank Carrilho, whose stunning “chaotic blackwork” style we’ve featured twice before. You can imagine our excitement when we learned Carrilho was attending the 15th annual Art Tattoo Montreal Show, and we quickly lined up an exclusive interview with him. Carrilho has become increasingly […]
Illustrative Tattoos Design with Subtlety by Sollefe
Some tattoos are meant as statement pieces for the body, while others take a subtler approach. Tattoo artist and illustrator Sollefe takes her passion for drawing and translates it into small body art that the wearer can enjoy solo. (Or, reveal it to whomever they chose.) Done in black ink, the images mimic the quality […]
Imaginative Half-Sleeve Landscape Tattoos by Lisa Orth
Lisa Orth’s life and work is defined by the art she creates. Originally from Seattle, where she worked as the Art Director for Sub Pop records and was celebrated among the city’s queer and club scene (you can watch a documentary about her life here), she has since relocated to Los Angeles, where she focuses […]
Darkened Ink: An Interview with Placide Avantia
Welcome to the mysterious world of Placide Avantia—an illustrator, tattoo artist, and self-professed alien. Working from Fuscare—her dimly lit studio located in the south of France—Placide Avantia uses black vegan ink and her dark imagination to spawn creatures that otherwise dwell only in nightmares, alternate worlds, and untold myths. From razor-beaked crows to the jagged […]
Spooky, Sexy, and Potentially Deadly: Tattoos by Sewp
Sewp is a Toronto-based artist who works out of Holy Noir Tattoo and guest spots around the world. He is also an illustrator and street artist, and much of his tattoo art is influenced by these mediums. Known for his dark, mysterious, and often-erotic style, Sewp’s work is characterized by shadowy-faced girls with piercing white […]
Gorgeous Ornamental Ink by Ellemental Tattoos
Ellemental Tattoos is the title of a Berlin-based tattoo artist who is making waves on social media with her stunning blackwork tattoos. Combining traditional Mehndi patterns with paisleys and contemporary mandalas, she transforms portions of the body into ornamental armor. Many of her pieces are large, spanning the entirety of her clients’ backs. She even […]
Dramatic Yet Minimal Tattoo Designs
What if a circle could make your jaw drop? What if a line could turn your head, or even turn you on? Minimalists, of course, love the less-is-more look. But when it comes to tattooing, bold placement proves that simple doesn’t have to mean boring. It’s not a new idea. Minimal shapes, lines and dotwork […]