About Ivan Justice
Black & grey realism · Fort Lauderdale
I'm Ivan, and I work only in black and grey. Large custom pieces are my focus: full sleeves, backs, chests and panels, though I'll gladly take a single strong piece too. Every design is built from scratch for the person wearing it, never copied off someone else's skin.
What matters most to me happens before the machine ever turns on: understanding your idea, choosing the right placement, and planning the composition so it flows with your body and holds its contrast for life. I care how a piece looks once it's healed and years down the line, not just fresh under a phone light.
I came to this the long way. I grew up in Serbia with very little, and spent years working in medicine before I found tattooing almost by chance and knew, from that first day, it was what I'd do for life. I taught myself from nothing, left home with one suitcase, built my own studio in Germany, won six awards at the Villingen-Schwenningen, Albstadt and Rastatt tattoo conventions, and earned an artist visa to the United States. When I'm not tattooing, I paint, the same obsession in another form.
Recognition
- Six tattoo convention awards in Germany, from the Villingen-Schwenningen, Albstadt and Rastatt conventions, including first place in Best of Realistic and first place in Best of Black & Grey
- Jury member at a tattoo convention in West Palm Beach, Florida, 2024
- Featured in Inked Magazine's Artist Spotlight, published under my birth name, Ivan Jovanović
- Featured in The Chicago Weekly News and My Tattoo Inc magazine, interviewed by Skin Artists
- Sponsored artist for Believa Tattoo, Ink Admin and PEPAX tattoo needles
Work with me
The honest way to judge my work is healed: most of the gallery has years in the skin. What large pieces cost, and how sessions run, is laid out in the pricing guide. When you're ready, send your idea over and I'll reply personally.