Swedish-born Oscar Åkermo rose from teenage experimentation with home-made machines to international acclaim. Relocating to New York, he co-founded Monolith Studio, where his fine-line, black & grey, and micro-realism work embodies surgical precision and dark narrative flair. He transforms skin into cinematic vignettes, redefining realism’s possibilities while mentoring the next wave of talent.

New Zealand native Steve Butcher is considered the master of hyperrealism. Now based in California, his portraits, from athletes to pop culture icons, often look indistinguishable from photographs. With backgrounds in painting and fine art, he approaches skin as canvas, building depth, tone, and emotion in ways that challenge the limits of tattooing.

From Barcelona, Victor Chil injects bold colour, surrealist energy, and comic-inspired vibrancy into his work. His fusion of neo-traditional, new school, and realism creates unmistakable pieces alive with personality and movement. A force in European tattooing, his compositions reveal both painterly discipline and a fearless sense of play, securing him a global following.

Korean-born, Los Angeles–based Woojin Choi (known as Oozy) has pioneered an unmistakable style dubbed “ceramic skin.” His ethereal blue-ink forms and illustrative compositions blur the line between tattoo and fine art. Working out of The GREY Studio, he continues to break conventions with hauntingly original visuals that feel sculpted onto the body.

From Tel Aviv’s Gida Tattoo & Gallery, Edit Ben Gida approaches tattooing with the eye of a painter. Her colour realism and micro-realism works radiate vibrancy and expression, often echoing brushstrokes on canvas. By blending fine art traditions with tattoo craft, she has positioned herself as a modern storyteller on skin.

An Oregon-based legend, Jeff Gogué is celebrated for painterly, large-scale Japanese and illustrative tattoos. His compositions, often spanning entire backs or sleeves, balance traditional iconography with Western fine art sensibility. Known as both a master craftsman and mentor, Gogué elevates tattooing into the realm of timeless, museum-worthy body art.

Victoria Lee has emerged as one of Asia’s most exciting voices in contemporary tattooing. Blending fine line, realism, and ornamental influences, her work embodies elegance and restraint. Based in China, she approaches tattoos as a form of living design, harmonising delicacy with permanence and redefining feminine artistry within the global scene.

Venezuelan-born, New York–based Yomico Moreno is synonymous with vivid realism and powerful storytelling. His large-scale works, often dramatic portraits or narrative-driven pieces, combine colour saturation with emotional intensity. Moreno’s commitment to pushing realism beyond replication has earned him collaborations, gallery features, and respect as a true innovator in modern tattooing.

Known simply as JonBoy, Jonathan Valena made fine-line minimal tattoos a global phenomenon. Based in New York, his delicate scripts and micro-symbols have adorned countless celebrities, from models to musicians. Beyond trendsetting, JonBoy’s philosophy treats tattoos as deeply personal signatures, democratizing tattoo culture while setting a new standard for subtle sophistication.

Japanese artist Nissaco has become globally revered for his geometric, blackwork, and mandala-inspired tattoos. His large-scale, intricately patterned pieces transform the body into a living architectural surface. With hypnotic precision and spiritual resonance, his work bridges ancient tradition with modern design, establishing him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary tattoo art.