Tattooing is a Filipino tradition that has existed for a long time and has gradually become a popular art form in modern times. There are many tattoo artists worldwide, but here in this article, we will introduce you to the famous tattoo artist in the Philippines for your reference!

The Basics You Should Know About Tattoo Art

Tattoos have been the types of body markings for ages. There is proof showing that there were tattoos all over our ancestors’ bodies in the past. Besides, that tradition still abides and sustained up to now.

“Tattoo” is a method of drawing that is permanent on our skin. More specifically, the word Tattoo originated from two main roots from the Polynesian people called "Ta" meaning a thing to impress, and the Tahitian called "Tatau" which means a kind of imprint.

Tattoo artists will use the needle to put the ink under the skin cuticle, and the ink will exist forever here. 

People used sharp objects such as needles, brooches, or anything to put ink under the skin in the past. But due to modern development,  there are many different types of tattoo machines nowadays, making the display of tattoos more exquisite and impressive.

There was a time when people had bad prejudice about people with tattoos on their bodies, but over time and the change of social thinking, tattooing has become an art! 

Famous Tattoo Artist In The Philippines

Tattooing takes more steps than you think! Finding the right artist is the foremost thing you have to do if you want to obtain a flawless tattoo. Here is a list of the best tattoo artist Philippines for your choice.

1. Leo Vincent Genabe

As a tattoo artist with 13.6k followers on Instagram, Leo Vincent is famous for his extremely detailed and colorful paintings.

His strong points are the animals and flower tattoos,  as Genabe can make the details look vibrant and real.

2. Ezekiel Oclaray

If a hand poke tattoo is your cup of tea, then Ezekiel is the right tattoo artist in the Philippines for you!

With skillful hands and simple specialized tools, this tattoo artist will give you the best hand poke tattoos you can think of. Additionally, he is a famous tattoo artist Philippines specializing in Baybayin.

3. Eloise Cadilo

Eloise Cadilo is a famous female tattoo artist Philippines, with nearly 15k followers on Instagram; she is famous in the Philippines and has various tattoo designs on flowers, landscapes, animals, and portraits, etc.

Moreover, Eloise Cadilo specializes in black ink tattoos with thin and soft lines, especially for girls.

4. Charmth

Another female artist on the list is Charmth. In contrast to Eloise, she is a genius in watercolor tattoos. We can say that the tattoos painted on her skin look like paper painting ones.

Charmth is a great artist for tattoos that have a feminine and colorful vibe.

5. Jhay Colis

Want a sleeve tattoo? Colis is the one to look out for. Specifically, his knowledge and skills in neo-traditional geometry and tattooing will create works that blow your mind!

Jhay’s specialty is tattooing with eye-catching and incredibly intricate structure. Indeed, nobody is more suitable than Jhay Colis to do a full-size yet delicate tattoo.

6. Annie Concepcion

Annie Conception is surely an expert in minimalistic tattoos if you need a tiny but cool tattoo. Her color tattoos with plain motif and few strokes make up a distinct and unique work style.

The arts of Annie are very small, only about 2 or 3 centimeters, but they are gorgeous and have harmonious colors, creating a modern and luxurious vibe.

7. Gigie Santiago

Gigi Santiago, who is also known as gigiebear, is a master in black ink tattoos. Undoubtedly, her works have an extremely cool appearance, which will make you fall in love right away once you see her artworks.

8. Minnie

Minnie is an artist with a lovely name, but her tattoo style is absolute!

Minnie decorates her personal  Instagram account as an art museum with many unique portrait drawings that you cannot find anywhere else as a person who says no to minimalism.

9. Ryan Bernardino

A big tattoo on the back is not a big issue for Ryan. To be more specific, his ultimate skills will surely make the painting on your skin look superb and worth your money.

His works seem to have a soul of their own and carry very heroic stories behind them. Besides the family portrait tattoos, he is keen on tattoos about warriors or movie characters.

10. Apo Whang Od

When you search for the keyword “famous tattoo artist Philippines,” Apo Whang Od will be the first name shown up!

Ms. Apo Whang Od, 103 years old, is a traditional tattoo artist Philippines and she is the oldest tattoo artist in the Philippines. She has always preserved the long-standing identity of her country in her artworks.

To make tattoos bearing the national cultural identity, Ms. Whang Od uses rather rudimentary tools such as sharp sticks made from grapefruit wood, bamboo, charcoal, and water. The aforementioned traditional tattoo series stays on the skin permanently. They are mostly characters, symbols of tribal power.

Over the years, her reputation has spread worldwide. Many journalists and young people come to interview, experience a unique tattoo service. When she turns 103, she has never stopped dedicating herself to keeping the traditional profession and training the next generation of tattooists.

Thanks to the story of perseverance in the profession of the elderly artist, traditional Filipino tattoos have become more popular. Hence,  the customers do not mind traveling for tens of hours and then walk through the forest road to reach the residence of the 103-year-old tattooist.

Famous Tattoo Artist In The Philippines: Conclusion

Tattooing is an art, and the tattoo artist is the illustrator who creates those wonderful works.

Choosing a dedicated tattoo artist is the best way to convey your story through images and words engraved on your skin for life.

With this list of “Famous tattoo artist in the Philippines,” we hope to make it easy for you to decide the perfect artist for your tattoos.