The Art of Perseverance

Many tattoo artists have tattooed themselves, but Dmitriy Tkach might be the only one who did so at age 10. “My grandfather introduced me to tattoos,” Tkach says while reflecting on his childhood in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. “He had one on his arm and told me how he got it, almost under homemade conditions. As a kid, it wasn’t hard for me to replicate that.”

Tkach grew his childhood curiosity into a career inking large-scale, immensely detailed and complex, mostly black-and-grey tattoos. He pursued large-scale work to distinguish himself after his early designs “spread across the internet and were copied by hundreds of other artists.” Now, he receives requests almost exclusively for full sleeves or legs from numerous clients, both within Ukraine and beyond. 

The Early Days

Visual art has been in Tkach’s blood for as long as he can remember. “Since early childhood, I had a strong interest in drawing,” he says. “It started with simple sketches in my school notebooks and grew into creating paintings that I hung on the walls of my bedroom.”

Over time, he pivoted from portraits of animals and landscapes to unkempt graffiti that he drew directly on his walls. He was constantly criticized for this graffiti, and as he faced rejection, he developed a sense of rebellion that drew him toward tattoos and his passions for heavy metal, hard rock, and motorcycles.

“I really enjoy this kind of lifestyle,” Tkach says of how these overlapping interests influence his tattooing. “It’s both aggressive and romantic. There’s a lot of drive and passion in it… I don’t go for unnecessary brutality or violence, but there’s always a hint of passion and a dark vibe in my work.”

Modern Detail

If you were to sum up Tkach’s work in one word, it might be “intricate.” Whether they occupy most of a client’s arm, a portion of their back, or the entirety of their chest, Tkach’s tattoos abound with sharp lines, careful shading, and startlingly true-to-life replications of cartoon characters and historical figures. His jaw-dropping attention to detail is more impressive given how he creates his designs.

“Each one is unique and hand-drawn,” Tkach says. “The concepts and themes behind my work are shaped by the culture and life experiences of both myself and my clients… If a client comes with a clear concept, I use their original idea as the foundation and interpret it in my own way.”

On the other hand, “if the idea isn’t fully formed yet, I help [the client] uncover it through deep conversations, learning about who they are and the story they want to tell.

“I never repeat the same design, never sell my sketches, and never copy other artists,” Tkach continues, emphasizing, “Sticking to these values has occasionally pushed me into creative burnout. What always pulls me out of those moments is the unstoppable drive to outdo myself. I come back to tattooing with fresh energy and new ideas that push my style even further.”

Among these new ideas is Tkach’s recent embrace of color. “What used to be a cold, gritty black-and-grey aesthetic is now slowly being transformed,” he says, adding, “When someone says they see only black and white tattoos on themselves, I don’t try to sell them on adding color.” Instead, the decision is made through “hours of creative back-and-forth — great conversations, brainstorming, and building ideas together” with the client.

Working Amid War

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Tkach relocated from the country’s capital of Kyiv, where he had a studio, to his native Zhytomyr to be closer to his family. For some time thereafter, he stopped tattooing.

“I tried to return to work in April 2022,” Tkach says, “but tattooing has never been just a craft or a way to earn money for me. It’s first and foremost about art. And once I realized that, in those conditions, I had no source of inspiration because every day brought either a small or a great tragedy, I stepped away from tattooing and art for more than a year.”

After another year passed, Tkach recounts that he “found the strength to return. I opened a new studio and began working again. My inspiration came from the people around me who supported me, and from my clients who, despite all the hardship, kept pushing themselves to live, love, and stay open to art and beauty.

“I made a conscious decision to stay and share the burdens and hardships my country is going through,” Tkach continues. “By staying in Ukraine, working, paying taxes, and continuing to create art, I’m still contributing to my country in my own way. And despite how difficult things are, that gives me a sense of purpose.”

A Future Vision

In February 2025, Tkach shared his first painting in many years. He says that this painting “reflected a buildup of feelings and experiences inside me” and “brought me a real sense of relief and satisfaction.” Since returning to tattooing, he’s realized that expression across artistic mediums is key to perseverance.

“I think [painting] is something I’ve been missing, and going forward, I’d like to give it more attention,” he says. “Maybe one day, when I’ve created enough pieces, I’ll put together an exhibition of my own.”

As he looks ahead, he envisions working for the betterment of all of Ukraine. “I’m planning to launch a major charity project to support our veterans and those who’ve been physically affected by the horrors of war,” he says. He hopes to use the global reach he achieved through his tattoos to spotlight his country, all while he keeps inking his exceptionally elaborate designs onto people’s bodies.

“I hope to, once again, welcome international clients to Ukraine,” he adds, “to show them our culture, our resilience, and the incredible talent of Ukrainian tattoo artists.”