Tattoos inspired by pop culture and anime, executed with consistency and accuracy. This is the strength of an Australian tattoo artist you’ll find at ‘Fallen Muse’ in Adelaide.
Hi Troy, I’d say we’ll start with current events: how did your participation in the 2026 ‘Mondial du Tatouage’ in Paris go?
Paris went really well, it’s such an amazing and massive convention, with an incredible amount of high quality artists. It’s genuinely inspiring. It’s always great to meet new people as well as catch up with friends from around the world! This year, I had a client fly in from Australia to present his back piece, which received far more attention than I expected. Over the three days, I also worked on a fun and challenging sleeve.
I read that your beginnings in tattoo art weren’t easy, learning techniques that perhaps are available to everyone today. And that it was your friends who inspired you to become a tattoo artist. Is that correct?
Yeah, I’ve been tattooing for over 16 years, and information wasn’t nearly as accessible back then. My first mentor left the studio about a year into my apprenticeship, which forced me to dive in at the deep end. It wasn’t the easiest way to learn, but I feel it shaped me into the artist I am today. It all started when my friends began getting tattooed and asked me to design their ideas. That experience pushed me toward pursuing tattooing professionally.
I enjoyed drawing the designs, however bringing them to life on skin was what really lit the spark for me.
How do you manage to be so perfect, precise, and faithful to the illustration when creating your tattoos dedicated to anime and pop culture phenomena?
I wouldn’t say perfect but accuracy and consistency come from a lot of research and a deep understanding of the original material. I study the source closely, then reinterpret it in a way that works with the body, the placement and the flow of the tattoo. From there I make creative decisions and adjust composition and introducing elements that enhance the design while respecting the original style but making it unique for the client. My goal is to create depth, impact and longevity, ensuring the tattoo not only stands out visually but also holds up over time.
Do you think your tattoos are mainly about nostalgia and the desire to always stay true to what we loved when we were young?
Nostalgia definitely plays a big part especially when I first started tattooing pop culture pieces. Often clients would like subjects to represent something they grew up watching or collecting. Over time though, anime, comics and pop culture in general have become much more popular and therefore more common to get tattooed. With new content and titles emerging alongside the classics continuing with new stories, episodes, films etc. Because of this I also find myself tattooing a lot of newer subjects as well.
Do you think you’ve had a mentor in your life that you’d like to thank here, or is it only your talent and dedication that made you Troy Slack, a respected and beloved tattoo artist today?
My career really took a turn when I started working at a studio called ‘Front Yard Tattoo’ in South Australia (IG: @frontyardtattoo). I learnt a great deal from the owner Byron Dreschler who was also the cofounder of Inkjecta. Through that experience, I was introduced to many talented artists I was able to learn from, and they inspired me to keep pushing myself further.
Australia is a country with a strong connection to tattoo art. Where exactly do you work in Adelaide?
I work out of ‘Fallen Muse’ (IG: @fallenmusetattoo) in Adelaide, which I opened with my friend and fellow artist Jayden Pengilly (IG: @jayden.tattoo). I also travel a bit for tattoo conventions and whenever possible I try to guest spot at different studios with artists I admire and have become friends with along the journey.
Which tattoo conventions will you be attending in the coming months? Do you already have booths booked around the world?
So far this year I have got ‘Inked Expo’ (IG: @inkedexpo) in Melbourne, ‘Roots Auckland Tattoo Convention’ (IG: @roots_auckland) in Auckland, ‘Ink Art Nation’ (IG: @inkartnation_convention) in Vietnam and ‘The Iron Gate Tattoo Convention’ (IG: @theirongatetattooconvention) in Sydney on the calendar. I’m hoping to squeeze in a few more stops too, places like Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Japan, and China.
Though of course I’ll have to check what my wife will actually let me get away with! (laughs)
How has fatherhood reshaped your priorities — both as an artist and as a person?
Becoming a father has changed me completely. Tattooing is still my passion but now my focus isn’t just on myself, it’s about supporting my family and giving my kids opportunities and experiences they deserve. I’m also learning to take better care of myself, not just for my own sake but so I can set a good example for them and be the kind of person I want them to look up to.
And your last famous words are… ?
Every tattoo I do is a privilege and I’m grateful for the amazing humans who make it possible.
