Singapore's Young Tattoo Collectives Are Leaving Their Mark

Whether you're a budding artist craving a spot in Singapore's tattoo frenzy or a canvas waiting to be adorned, the city offers a multitude of options. From established studios to wandering artists making pop-up appearances in town, and let's not forget the fresh collectives led by under-30s eager to leave their mark on human skin. Ahead, get to know five such groups.

YUGTO TATTOO STUDIO

A TL;DR background: This tattoo outfit was founded by Ron Carlos Javier and Rommela Lee, both from the Philippines. Javier moved to Singapore in 2010 when he was just 17 years old, while Lee made the move in 2017 with her mother.

Formed in: November 2023

Instagram: @yugtotattoo

Address: 60 Arab Street #02-01

The resident artists at Yugto Tattoo Studio:

ROMMELA LEE aka ELA, 28

Instagram: @inkkoela and @inkbyela

Experience: Six years

Best known for: This tattooist goes by two alter egos – Inkkoela and Inkbyela. Inkkoela is recognised for cute and edgy drawing styles, such as cats, bunnies, and other pets and animals. Inkbyela, on the other hand, is Ela’s other account, known for black and grey realism, surrealism, and various other styles.

ROYCE NGUYEN, 28

Instagram: @boi.inker

Experience: Three years 

Best known for: Nguyen specialises in sketchy, realistic, and stippling styles. Stippling is a shading technique that uses "dots" of ink to create the illusion of shading. In addition to these, Nguyen is currently working with all other styles as well.

DAVID REBOCA, 27, AND LEE SHAN TEO, 25

Instagram: @reboca_ink and @rukiddink respectively

Experience: Both are apprentices with seven months of training

Best known for: They are known for their ongoing exploration and learning of tattoo styles under the guidance of the studio.

Tell us more about the origin story of Yugto Tattoo Studio.

Javier and Lee (they prefer to answer the questions as a duo): "The studio is named after the Tagalog word yugto, which has a deep and profound meaning: 'a chapter; a change or transition; a stage in life.' We believe that each tattoo represents a chapter or story in someone's life, and we want to be a part of our customers' yugto."

Why set up a studio in Singapore?

Javier and Lee: "Singapore is our home, and we love the art and tattoo culture here. People in Singapore are more open to a wide variety of styles, and we enjoy working with all kinds of tattoo designs."

Are you inspired by traditional Filipino tattoos in your work?

Javier and Lee: "We are inspired by Apo Whang-Od (the renowned 107-year-old tattoo artist who practices the ancient Filipino tattooing art.) However, we usually don't use her traditional methods out of respect for tribal culture. As a collective of young artists, we focus more on modern styles and love exploring various tattoo designs."

What is a standout characteristic that defines Yugto Tattoo Studio?

Javier and Lee: "Our studio's aesthetic is bright, cosy, homey, and welcoming, which our clients love so much that they often fall asleep during their sessions. Many of our clients even refer to us as 'therapists' because they feel they can openly share their life stories with us. Beyond providing a friendly atmosphere, we also deliver excellent tattoos. We ensure our clients receive not only great tattoos but also memorable experiences."

PATTOO TARLOUR

A TL;DR background: Owners Jeremiah Matthews and Tatiana Looi started their journey as a home-based studio. Matthews aimed not only to provide quality tattoos but also to innovate within the tattoo industry, demonstrated through their informative and educational content on their Instagram account.

Formed in: May 2023

Instagram: @pattootarlour

Address: 196 Pandan Loop, #04-01

The resident artists at Pattoo Tarlour:

TATIANA LOOI, 24

Instagram: @inkbytati

Experience: Three years

Best known for: Abstract and semi-realistic designs

JEREMIAH MATTHEWS, 31

Instagram: @ink.walla

Experience: Four and a half years

Best known for: His expertise in black and grey realism pieces

NADINE LOH, 26

Instagram: @danger.stabs

Experience: One year as an apprentice

Best known for: Specialises in semi-realistic tattoos, celebrated for her unique designs and great sense of humour

Tell us more about the origin story of Pattoo Tarlour.

Matthews: "I wanted to bridge the gap for aspiring tattoo artists striving to achieve their goals. Many face challenges like burnout and creative ruts because they must handle all major tasks independently, from improving their tattoo skills to marketing, sales, client management, and accounting."

Looi: "While attending ITE Central for a visual merchandising course, I pursued tattooing alongside my studies due to my passion for art. In my final year, I failed my internship and consequently the entire module. Faced with the choice of redoing it or dropping out, I chose to leave because I was weary of school and eager to start something on my own. Despite discouraging remarks from relatives and friends, I pushed through and found supportive friends who helped me realise my vision for the tattoo industry. Looking back, it was the best decision I've ever made."

Loh: "I was pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology in the United States but halfway through, I became disillusioned with the routine and the environment. Driven by my passion for drawing since childhood, I returned to Singapore in search of a tattoo apprenticeship. During this time, I began tattooing friends, finding immense joy in the process. This led me to discover Pattoo Tarlour, where I applied and found fulfilment in tattooing my designs on others, an experience that surpassed anything I had felt in the US."

What is a standout characteristic that defines Pattoo Tarlour?

Matthews: "Our main USP is providing excellent tattoos at affordable rates. We are continually enhancing our skills, our artists, and every aspect of our brand with the goal of offering superior tattoos and services at accessible prices. Our starting price for an open needle session is $85.

I believe the feeling of 'not enough tattoo content in Singapore' stems from two factors. First, the content itself – while there are many talented tattoo artists in Singapore showcasing their impressive work, there is a lack of entertainment skits and educational content discussing topics like different needle groupings and pain levels, which consumers are keen to learn about. Second, it's the frequency of posting. Artists are often occupied managing various aspects of their careers."

Tell us more about the informative content the team has produced for your social media.

Matthews: "I noticed a lack of diverse tattoo content in the Singapore market, which boils down to two main issues. Firstly, the content itself mostly showcases the impressive work of talented tattoo artists but lacks entertainment skits and educational content on topics like different needle groupings and pain levels – subjects that consumers are eager to learn about. Secondly, it's also about the frequency of posting, as artists are often busy managing various aspects of their careers.

Therefore, our focus has been on filling this gap by providing entertaining and educational content. Based on these insights, I founded Pattoo Tarlour and have grown it by addressing these issues, offering three key elements to the market: quality tattoos, skilled artists, and engaging content."

STUDIO ONLYHUMAN

A TL;DR background: Tattoo artists Mabel Yeo and Gregory Tay are the masterminds behind the business, transforming their dystopian art vision into living body canvases.

Formed in: January 2023

Instagram: @only____human_____

Address: 48 Hillview Terrace

The resident artists at Studio OnlyHuman:

MABEL YEO, 28

Instagram: @9999.00ttt

Experience: Two years

Best known for: Her expertise in handpoke, machine-free tattoos, as well as dark esoteric and neo-Asian styles

GREGORY TAY, 28

Instagram: @egodeathttt

Experience: Three and a half years

Best known for: Specialising in machine tattoos, freehand Gothic blackwork, and cyber Sigilism

Tell us more about the origin story of Studio OnlyHuman.

Yeo and Tay (they prefer to answer the questions as a duo): "The concept behind our brand is rooted in an evolving post-apocalyptic sci-fi universe and narrative. It emerged from our desire to showcase our creativity, courage, and talents holistically, while seeking a community that resonates with our vision.

Studio OnlyHuman stands firm in rejecting this idea of bionic beings and post-sapiens, advocating instead for traditional body enhancement: tattooing. The tattoo becomes a genuine mark of human identity, celebrating the virtues of self-expression and creativity unique to each individual."

What is a standout characteristic that defines Studio OnlyHuman?

Yeo and Tay: "Every aspect of the Studio OnlyHuman brand is meticulously curated to reflect our personal and collective style, possibly making it the first of its kind. Our bunker-style studio serves not only as a tattoo studio but also as an art gallery where our works are displayed on various mediums. In addition to showcasing our art, we enjoy sourcing and curating furniture and decor pieces adorned with our art. Friends of the studio also contribute to this collection, including a 3D-printed lampshade, Polaroids, and hand-drawn wall art."

Can you tell us more about the Studio OnlyHuman community?

Yeo and Tay: "We are redefining our creative ecosystem by uniting a community of imaginative misfits who challenge conventions and collaborate to bring creative visions to life. We foster a culture free of judgment, limitations, and traditional constraints, embracing innovative visual directions and strategic collaborations."

BUNKER

A TL;DR background: Founded by a group of tattoo artists who became friends through Instagram's online tattoo community, Bunker is built on their passion for their craft and creativity.

Formed in: November 2023

Instagram: @______bunker

Address: The collective is located on the east side of Singapore, with the full address available to clients who have made an appointment.

The resident artists at Bunker:

DEANNA TEO, 22

Instagram: @gashpunk

Experience: Three years

Best known for: Her style exudes spunkiness and showcases a strong affinity for illustration, characterised by intricate shading and textures that create depth and contrast on the skin.

MIE LIN, 22

Instagram: @mouldymothy

Experience: One year

Best known for: Their whimsical portrayal of mythical creatures, blending grotesque elements with simplistic cuteness. Their art style frequently incorporates organic shapes that complement the human form. Mie has also been exploring more intricate and delicate designs using their tattoo machine, believing that varying line weights infuse human flesh with greater vitality.

VIOLET LEE, 25

Instagram: @wonkypokes

Experience: Two and a half years

Best known for: Lee excels at creating meme-style and text tattoos, like cute cakes spelling out phrases such as "mentally unstable" and stippled texts. She blends dark humour, sarcasm, and current trends into whimsical doodles that transform into playful tattoos. While exploring various styles, she particularly enjoys experimenting with different texts and textures in her hand-poked tattoos

ANNA TANG, 22

Instagram: @jiasoup

Experience: Two years

Best known for: Hand-poked tattoos with a whimsical and illustrative feel. She aims to further refine and explore this style in her upcoming flash designs, emphasizing shading to achieve soft depth that complements the cell shading and lines in her artwork.

CYNTHIA ONG, 22

Instagram: @sinistersister.tt

Experience: One year

Best known for: This tattooist is a pro at blending figures, symbols, symmetry, and freeform with creatures and morbid beings.

CALYN LUM, 22

Instagram: @c0pinism

Experience: 10 months

Best known for: Calyn draws inspiration from Korean tattoo artists, specialising in a blend of fine line, illustrative, and coloured tattoos. She particularly favours cyber Sigilism and coquette styles, often combining them with a focus on pink and black colors. As a burgeoning artist, she's currently developing tattoo flashes that integrate her preferred methods: clean line art and stipple shading.

Tell us more about the origin story of Bunker.

Bunker (the collective prefers to answer the questions as a group): "We all connected through the online tattoo community on Instagram as mutuals. Interestingly, most of us were seeking companionship and a shared space to practice our crafts. By sheer coincidence, we all had our eyes on the same potential space. Our collective passion for tattooing brought us together, and we decided it would be amazing to create a modest haven where creativity could thrive alongside camaraderie."

What is a standout characteristic that defines Bunker?

"Bunker exudes the vibe of an underground, laid-back hangout spot, which is reflected in our studio's interior. Our studio hosts a diverse group of artists, each with their own unique styles. Despite this diversity, there's a cohesive energy that permeates the space, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Our pricing varies based on factors like size, placement, complexity, and artist, with rates starting at $50."

BROKE BASTARDS TATTOO

A TL;DR background: Founded in a small office in Tai Seng, Broke Bastards Tattoo has grown into a collective now based in the trendy Joo Chiat enclave. They focus on creating a safe, comfortable environment for artists and clients while pushing creative boundaries.

Formed in: September 2022

Instagram: @brokebastardstattoo

Address: 408B Joo Chiat Road

The resident artists at Broke Bastards Tattoo (they prefer not to reveal their last names):

CHLOE, 26

Instagram: @cooieeinks

Experience: Three years

Best known for: Vibrant ani-manga and whimsical and cutesy tattoos

DAYAH, 26

Instagram: @dayahisdead

Experience: Six years

Best known for: Blackwork and black-and-gray tattoos.

ANABETH, 22

Instagram: @anabeth.tatt

Experience: Around six years

Best known for: Black and gray realism and dark illustrative tattoos

SHAWN, 27

Instagram: @shawnderlin

Experience: Twp years

Best known for: Old school and traditional and manga-inspired tattoos

ISAAC, 25

Instagram: @16gauge.tattoo

Experience: One and a half years

Best known for: Semi-realism and illustrative comic art

Tell us more about the origin story of Broke Bastards Tattoo.

Broke Bastards Tattoo (the collective prefers to answer the questions as a group): "We're born from the need for a safe space for tattoo artists; Broke Bastards Tattoo derives its name from being created by and for individuals deeply involved in the tattoo industry. Over the years, we've welcomed both machine and hand-poke tattoo artists, offering them a secure environment to work in. Our community now includes at least 20 to 25 artists, some of whom have achieved international recognition and success. Broke Bastards Tattoo is where artists can feel safe, creative, and freely express themselves."

What is a standout characteristic that defines Broke Bastards Tattoo?

"We strive to create a fun, lively, and welcoming atmosphere while providing personalised attention to each client. Simply put, we embrace inclusivity – welcoming everyone regardless of background or experience. Hate speech and inappropriate behavior are not tolerated on our premises. Additionally, we welcome artists of all styles and actively support their growth within our community."