21 ARTISTS TO WATCH

AN UNDERGROUND CONVERSATION ON MODERN TATTOOING

Wave chestpiece by @doyo_tattoo - Seoul, Korea

21 ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2022

Despite all the factors working against tattooers the past few years (lockdowns, algorithm shifts, pressure to create commercial work over the avant-garde), there are always new creatives willing to take risks.

In no particular order, I will share 21 artists who caught my eye in 2021. Some of these folks are new to the trade, meaning their technique needs work but their ideas are interesting. Others have been around for a while but don't have nearly the audience they deserve.

Being a fan of surrealism, abstraction and heavy black design, my picks will lean more toward these aesthetics. If you like any of these artists, go follow them and show your support! I hope you enjoy.

1. DOYO AHN @doyo_tattoo

Up until October of this year, Seoul-based artist Doyo Ahn specialized in ornamental and sacred geometry designs. But now, she's taking the leap into abstract, heavy black work. I'm looking forward to watching her grow.

2. GINO SORGENTE @gino_sorgente

Gino came on my radar after his collaboration with Marco Matarese last year (below). Based in Milan, he puts a surrealist spin on botanical and nautical imagery, often with unexpected placement.

3. GORKEM TUYSUZ @gorkemtuysuz

Part of a series that blends calligraphy, abstract expressionism, and photorealistic eyes by @gorkemtuysuz

Blending very different styles while maintaining cohesion is not a simple task. Turkish artist Gorkem Tuysuz makes it look easy, though. His mix of calligraphy, photorealism and abstract elements is something I've not really seen before.

4. VIHA @viha.tattoo

Abstract collar (in progress) by @viha.tattoo

I can't believe I'm only just now discovering Polish artist Viha. If you're a fan of modern abstract texture workers like Caro Ley or Olivier Poinsignon, you'll love her portfolio.

5. F SEGISMUNDO @fksegismundo

Abstract textures by @fksegismundo - Brooklyn, NYC

Born in LA, raised in Hong Kong, and trained in London, this Filipino tattooer is now based in NYC. She creates work unlike anything I've ever seen. If you've been subscribing to my newsletter from the beginning, you may also remember Segismundo's contributions to my Texture Issue.

6. PAINT CRACKING @paintcracking

"Cracked paint" composition by @paintcracking

Their name is pretty self explanatory: they create abstract lines on the body to resemble cracked paint. The first time a friend mentioned them to me, she said, "I don't know, it just makes me uncomfortable," which is high praise for a conceptual artist.

7. CANDY CRIME @kingcandycrime.ttt

Mixed media design by @kingcandycrime.ttt - Berlin

By no means new to the scene, the babe known as (King) Candy Crime still deserves the spotlight for a couple reasons. For one, her accounts keep getting deleted by platforms, so she's always in need of more signal boosts. But mostly, she's evolving her work from typography into larger scale, heavy black designs. It's always fun to watch a talented artist keep pushing themselves into new territory.

8. HANNES @JHWTTT

I met this kind, queer tattooer in Berlin a few months ago. His work is bold, even among heavy blackwork artists. I greatly respect the scale of his designs, as well as the trust his clients give to him.

9. LAURA HOCHMOND @laurahochmondtattoo

Healed sleeves and fresh hands by @laurahochmondtattoo - Vienna

Being a lover of kinetic lines and dark compositions, I've enjoyed Laura Hochmond's work for a while now. She really stepped up her game this year, both in terms of size and complexity of her designs.

10. MOR ASRAF @mor__asraf

"The Depth of Motivation" by @mor__asraf - Tel Aviv

While I don't often feature photorealism, Tel Aviv artist Mor Asraf uses it to build bizarre, Dalí-inspired tattoos. In a saturated genre that can feel a bit bland at times, he levels up the discourse and keeps things interesting.

11. PETER FAHR JR. @peter_fahr_junior

Peter Fahr Jr.'s work is soft yet bold, friendly yet kind of disturbing. In addition to tattooing in Leipzig, he can also be found painting murals all over Europe.

12. DAWID SZUBERT @dawidszubert_tat

Mixed media portrait by @dawidszubert_tat - Warsaw, Poland

Similar to why I was drawn to Peter Fahr Jr., Polish artist Dawid Szubert combines minimal lines with black and grey realism. He's a bit more delicate, though. The words that come to mind for me are "grace without pretension."

13. KATUSZA @_katusza_

Splitting time between Warsaw and Berlin, Katusza is quickly becoming one of my favorite color abstract expressionists. She has a way of working a lot of elements into one space, without it feeling heavy or imbalanced.

14. TIARET @tiarettee

Minimal botanicals by @tiarettee - Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Young and growing quickly, 20 year old Tiaret's philsophy is "to use the body to remember we are a part of nature, not operating outside of it." If you're a fan of the minimalist botanicals of Jess Chen, you'll love this artist's work.

15. CHRIS MONTES @studiomontes

Flamingo Lilies by @studiomontes - Miami, FL, USA

Speaking of minimal botanicals, I want to highlight Chris Montes for the same reason. Her lines also have a fluidity to their weights, which I find pretty cool, and her compositions use negative space in a way I appreciate.

16. AGATA @agataris

Collaboration between @agataris x @nottoopermanent

This may seem like a strange and very specific thought, but contemporary art in Porto (Portugal) always reminds me of Wassily Kandinsky. So, when I found out Agata is based in Porto, my first words were, "of course." She uses simple shapes and a playful color scheme in these abstract expressionist designs.

17. ESPIRRO @espirro_

Abstract concept (censored by artist) by @espirro_

I couldn't feature Agata without a spotlight on Espirro, a fellow Portuguese abstract expressionist. This year, she expanded into full body concepts, the scale of which is really impactful.

18. LALA BIRGER @lala.birger

Abstract compositions by @lala.birger - Buenos Aires, Argentina

If you're a fan of artists like Métamose or Andrey Volkov, you'll probably dig nonbinary femme tattooer Lala Birger, based in Buenos Aires.

19. ANIKA KATZENGOLD @anika.katzengold_______

Abstract textures by @anika.katzengold_______ - Vienna

Nonbinary femme artist Anika Katzengold calls themself the "local endorphin dealer" to fellow Austrians. Their studio Maschinenraum is also a modern space that promotes inclusivity, welcoming all genders and bodies without prejudice.

20. LUCA COMPLAIN @luca_complain

Concepts by @luca_complain - Morlanwelz, Belgium

There's no love lost between me and the Instagram algorithm, but I will say it was spot on when it recommended Luca Complain to me. His work reminds me a bit of Matteo Nangeroni, but with a voice that's all his own.

21. KAT RICHTER @kat_r_art

My first thought when I saw Kat's portfolio was "Servadio meets Adrià Deyza", which is an incredible compliment to her. I'm loving these expressive portraits, as well as her bold approach (both in scale and line weight).

That's a wrap for Issue 010! If you missed previous issues, they're live on my website: tattrx.com/underground

Buy me a coffee if you're a cutie!
PayPal: tattrx@gmail.com / Venmo: @chillpolyamory

This is an unpaid labor of love, as it's always been. Full disclosure: I worked with JHWTTT briefly this year, but wasn't compensated for featuring him here. I welcome your feedback, corrections and contributions.

Happy New Year!
Morgan

-
All image copyrights are retained by the artists. All text copyrights reserved by Tattrx LLC.