From Greece to Los Angeles, with nearly a decade of travels around the world in between, Joza.Ink has turned tattooing into a universal language — one that connects cultures, experiences, and visions. His work is a constant exploration that merges painting, sculpture, and visual arts, reinterpreted on skin through marks that are both raw and deeply emotional. In these lines, he opens up to Tattoo Life, sharing memories of his first steps and the awareness of a journey that continues to expand.
Hi Joza, where are you from and where do you live?
I’m originally from Athens, Greece, where my journey as an artist first began. For about eight years I travelled from city to city around the world, tattooing, creating, and learning. Those years gave me the chance to work alongside amazing artists, discover different cultures, and find inspiration in unexpected places.
Travel has always been something I love — it shaped who I am and the way I see art. In the last few years, Los Angeles has become my home base. After almost a decade of constant movement, it’s the first place I’ve stayed for so long. California has given me a lot of inspiration — its nature, the light, the culture, the diversity of people. I’m still in love with travelling and exploring, but Los Angeles feels like the place where I can create, grow, and continue building my vision.
How long have you been in the tattoo world?
My connection with tattoos began even before I became an artist — I already carried tattoos on my own skin, and I was always drawn to their power and meaning. In 2011 I held a tattoo machine for the very first time, and that moment opened a completely new world to me. Coming from painting and visual art, I was fascinated by the idea of using the human body as a living canvas. The textures, the depth, and the emotions you can create with ink and needle felt like discovering a new language of expression.
That realization captured me completely, and from then on tattooing became my path, a lifelong journey of art and exploration.
Can you describe your tattoo shop?
My studio is not a walk-in shop but an appointment-only space, designed to feel more like an artist’s atelier than a conventional tattoo shop. The atmosphere is clean and minimal, but also warm and creative — a place where people can feel comfortable, relaxed, and fully focused on the art we’re creating together. I believe the environment plays a big role in the process, so I’ve built a space that reflects the same values as my work: trust, inspiration, and freedom. Every session becomes an experience, not just a tattoo appointment.
What have been the key milestones in your career?
One of the most important milestones in my career was travelling for almost eight years, working in studios and conventions all around the world. During that time, I had the chance to collaborate with incredible artists, experience different cultures, and see how tattooing is lived and expressed in so many places. Those years gave me both confidence and inspiration, and they shaped my artistic identity in a very unique way. Another defining part of my journey has been the recognition of my work beyond the studio. I’ve had the honor to be featured in international magazines and television, and to give a TEDx talk about my vision of art and tattooing. These opportunities allowed me to share my story with a wider audience and reinforced the importance of staying true to my path.
But maybe the most meaningful milestone is the trust people show in me. Even now that I’m based in Los Angeles, I regularly welcome clients who travel from Europe, Canada, and even as far as Australia to get tattooed by me. Knowing that people across continents to collaborate with me is the greatest motivation and the clearest sign that this journey matters. All of these experiences have brought me to where I am today — focused on growing my vision as JOZA.INK and continuing to create art that speaks across borders. Give me trust, give you scratch.
Your tattoos are neo-traditional with brushstrokes of color that seem to want to make your work more ‘brutal’. Is that so?
My tattoos are hard to fit into a single category, because they combine many elements — abstract, sketch, brushstrokes, patterns, color, and also black and grey. I see the skin as a living canvas, and I like to create pieces that feel raw, powerful, and timeless. The brushstrokes and the freehand lines are very important for me. They bring movement, energy, and emotion into the tattoo.
Sometimes they can look “brutal,” but for me it’s not about aggression, it’s about honesty, intensity, and creating something alive.
Each tattoo is a dialogue between me and the person wearing it. I always want it to reflect their story and their energy, but at the same time carry my own artistic identity. This balance makes every piece unique, impossible to repeat, and able to grow with the person over time.
Do you have a background in art school?
Yes, I studied at the Fine Arts School of Florina in Greece, where I focused on painting, sculpture, and installation. That education gave me a strong foundation, but also the freedom to experiment and develop my own visual language.
Before that, I also graduated as a dental technician, which gave me a unique perspective — working with anatomy and shaping forms on a very small scale felt like a kind of micro-sculpture. Beyond tattooing, I’ve also been involved in photography, illustration for children’s books, and even poetry. At one point I even created my own clothing line, designing the pieces myself. All of these experiences gave me different tools of expression, and they all find their way back into my tattoos.
Where do you take inspiration for your style?
My inspiration comes from fine art, abstract expressionism, everyday life, and especially from travelling. Experiencing different cultures and working with artists around the world has shaped me deeply. For me, tattooing is not just about design — it’s about bringing together all of these influences and transforming them into something alive on the skin.
Are there particular subjects you especially love to work on, the ones that really define you?
I don’t like to limit myself to one subject, because for me tattooing is more about energy and expression than repeating the same images. Still, I’m very drawn to abstract forms, brushstrokes, and textures — elements that bring movement, emotion, and honesty into the skin. I also enjoy creating contrasts, combining figurative subjects like animals, faces, or symbols with abstract lines and patterns. This fusion allows me to explore both strength and fragility, chaos and harmony. In the end, what really defines me is not a single subject, but the way I transform ideas into something unique, raw, and timeless.
Do you want to add anything to this chat?
Yes — I just want to thank everyone who has trusted me with their skin and their stories over the years. Tattooing for me is not just a job, it’s a collaboration and a shared journey. Without that trust, none of this would be possible. I also want to remind people that art is not only something you see, but something you feel and carry with you. Every tattoo is alive, it grows with the person, and that’s what makes this art form so powerful. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supports me and to all the people I’ve met along the way. This journey is still just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.
