Seattle, Washington · 47.6062° N, 122.3321° WBORZ · Tattoo Artist
Fine art, inked.
I'm BORZ, a Seattle tattoo artist working in color realism and neotraditional. Every piece I make is an original, designed for you and the body it lives on.
- 11+years tattooing
- 7competition awards
- 3first places
Hi, I'm Ahmet. Most people know me as BORZ.
I'm a Turkish tattoo artist in Seattle, specializing in color realism and neotraditional work. I'm inspired by classical painting and oil techniques, and I approach every tattoo through light, color, contrast and depth.
I was born in Ankara in 1992 and started out with graffiti when I was young. I went on to study Art Education at Gazi University (painting, composition, color theory) and from 2012 to 2015 worked on Pırıl, an animated project for TRT Çocuk.
I've been tattooing professionally since 2015. I ran my own studio in Turkey from 2020 to 2024, and in December 2024 I moved to Seattle, where I keep pushing what color realism can do.
“Every tattoo is an original artwork, designed in dialogue with the human body.”
Read my storyThree styles, one signature.
Each style has its own grammar. Pick the one that feels closest to you and browse the pieces I've made in it.
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Color Realism
Portraits, flowers and whole scenes built from light, color and contrast, layered the way an oil painter would build a canvas. My main focus, and the style behind most of my awards.
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Neotraditional
Bold outlines and rich, painterly color with an illustrator's eye for character, from Art Nouveau muses to playful portraits with attitude.
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Black & Gray
Smooth gradients, deep blacks and sharp detail: realism built entirely from shades of gray, with a touch of color only where it matters.
A few pieces I'm proud of.
Every design here was drawn for one person and one placement. The full collection lives in my portfolio.
Seven awards. Three first places.
7 awards3 first places2025–2026 seasons
Since moving to the US, I've been bringing my work to tattoo arts festivals. These are the competition awards from the 2025–2026 seasons.
Chicago Tattoo Arts Festival
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2nd Place: Tattoo of the Day, Color (Sunday)
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3rd Place: Medium Color
Cleveland Tattoo Arts Festival
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1st Place: Tattoo of the Day, Black & Gray (Friday)
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2nd Place: Tattoo of the Day, Color (Sunday)
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1st Place: Male Medium Color
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1st Place: Large Color
Tampa Tattoo Arts Festival
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2nd Place: Hand and Neck
My work has been featured in Tattoo Magazin and Skin Artists Tattoo Magazine, and I'm a sponsored artist with EMALLA.
From idea to skin in four steps.
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Consultation
Tell me your idea, the placement and a rough size, and share any references you love. We talk it through and shape the concept together.
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Design
I draw an original design for you, built around your placement: composition, color and contrast that follow the shape of the body.
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Session
On the day, we place the stencil together and fine-tune it before the first line. Then I take my time with the details.
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Healing
You leave with aftercare instructions, and you can text me with any questions while it heals.
A great tattoo is finished by great aftercare.
How your tattoo looks in ten years depends a lot on the first few weeks. After your session I give you aftercare instructions; always follow those first. This is a general guide.
First 24 hours
Keep the wrap on for as long as I recommend. A little oozing and redness is normal.
Days 2–7
The skin may feel tight and start to flake. Wash it gently twice a day and apply a thin layer of aftercare lotion.
Weeks 2–4
Flakes fall off on their own and the itching fades. Colors can look a little cloudy for a while; that is temporary.
Months 1–3
The deeper layers of the skin finish healing and the tattoo settles into its final look.
Do
- Wash your hands before touching the tattoo, and clean it gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
- Pat it dry with a clean paper towel, then apply a thin layer of the aftercare product I recommend.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over it; friction slows healing.
- Drink plenty of water and get enough sleep; your body does the healing.
Avoid
- Picking or scratching the flakes; itching is a normal part of healing.
- Pools, hot tubs, baths, saunas and the ocean for at least two weeks.
- Direct sun until it has healed. After that, protect it with SPF 50.
- Ignoring warning signs: if redness keeps spreading after a few days, or you have a fever or discharge, see a doctor and let me know.
Questions, answered.
Can't find what you're looking for? Text me your question and I'll get back to you.
Text me your questionSend a request through the booking page with your idea, the placement, an approximate size and a few reference images. I'll get back to you to talk through the design and find a date. You can also text me or write to me through the site.
Color realism and neotraditional are my main focus, and I also work in black and gray realism. Lifelike portraits, flowers and detailed custom compositions are where I feel most at home.
Every piece is custom, so the price depends on size, placement, level of detail and the number of sessions. Send me your idea and I'll give you an estimate before anything is booked.
References are welcome as inspiration, but I don't copy another artist's work. Every design is drawn specifically for you and for the part of the body it will live on.
Get a good night's sleep, eat a proper meal before you come and stay hydrated. Skip alcohol the day before, and wear comfortable clothes that give easy access to the area we're tattooing.
You'll get aftercare instructions at the end of your session. In short: keep it clean, moisturize lightly, don't pick or scratch, and keep it out of the sun, pools and hot tubs while it heals.
Yes. In Washington State you must be 18 or older to get tattooed, and I'll ask to see a valid photo ID on the day of your appointment.
Tell me your idea.
Private studio. The exact address is shared once your appointment is confirmed.
Hours
- Tattoo sessions
- By appointment
All sessions are by appointment only.
Booking
Let's make something original.
Tell me your idea, the placement and the size you have in mind. I'll get back to you and we'll find a date.
Book now