We are excited to present today Davide, an Italian tattoo artist who made a name for himself thanks to his vibrant anime-style tattoos.
From designing on the body directly to leaving color choices to instinct, he eventually found his true voice in anime, a genre that lets him push creative limits while staying connected to his lifelong love for Japanese culture.
For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
Hey everyone! I’m Davide, an Italian tattoo artist specializing in anime tattoos. I’ve been living in the U.S. for almost two years now, currently based in Atlanta, GA. I’m a self-made tattooer and throughout my career, I’ve studied and practiced pretty much every tattoo style out there. All that work shaped who I am today, and it shows in every piece I do. It helps me draw inspiration from anywhere and never feel limited creatively.
Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?
I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid trying to copy cartoon characters and even draw on myself with markers to make fake tattoos (even though the best ones came in chip bags!). I was always fascinated when I saw tattoos on people’s skin, so honestly, it feels like me and tattooing chose each other.
At what point in your life, you became a professional tattoo artist?
After high school, I promised myself I’d take any job I could to save up for tattoo equipment…and that’s exactly what I did. I started tattooing at home for a couple of years, and then decided to take the leap and try getting into a studio in my hometown. That’s when my professional journey really began, stepping out of my room and into a real tattoo shop.
How do you balance creativity with the client’s personal vision?
These days, there are a lot of talented anime tattoo artists out there, which is awesome for inspiring clients too. For each submission, I ask questions about what they’re looking for and their specific needs. I always let them know I don’t copy, but I create custom piece for each client. Having creative freedom is a big part of delivering the best results.
How would you define your current tattoo style and how did you end up focusing on it?
I’ve always been super into Japanese culture (both traditional folklore and pop culture), fact is that anime and manga are my biggest sources of inspiration. I even gave up doing neo-traditional tattoos to fully focus on anime, even back when almost nobody in Italy was doing it. Let’s just say I took a leap of faith… and I’m glad I landed on Goku’s flying nimbus instead of a black hole (just to throw in a nerdy reference, haha).
Please walk us through your process when you start a new tattoo for your customers.
Once I’ve got all the info I need from the client, I design the tattoo using a photo of the body part we’re working on, so the design fits the area perfectly. One thing that usually surprises clients is that they only see the linework on the day of the appointment, cause I don’t prepare any color previews. I get that it’s hard to imagine how it’ll turn out, but that’s how my creative process works. I don’t like limiting imagination, especially because my mind works in a really particular way when I tattoo.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2025?
In a world full of social media illusions, talented people, and circus acts popping up daily…you’ve got to know who you are. Stay focused on your goals, feed your ambition, and don’t get distracted by numbers. The only way to really make it is to stay true to yourself.
What’s a tattoo project that challenged your skills the most?
The first full anime leg sleeve I did was super interesting because designing something that big is even more complex than a back piece. You have to consider how skin and muscles move differently in different areas. But in the end, it turned out great and now it’s actually one of my most requested tattoos.
What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
Now that I’ve settled in, I finally got back into doing more conventions and getting to do them here in the U.S. is honestly a dream come true. The energy at most of them is just amazing.
Did you ever participate at any tattoo contest?
Absolutely, I try to join a few contests at each convention. Of course, you don’t always win, but I’ve managed to collect quite a few awards along the way.
What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?
I do it to get my name out there and meet artists I admire or people I’ve only talked to on Instagram. But also to travel and discover new places and cultures. That’s always been a dream of mine and one of the reasons I chose this path.
What’s your favorite tattoo convention so far? And why?
I might be biased because the organizers are two close friends of mine (Kimberly and Christian), but Anime Ink in Richmond, Virginia is hands down my favorite convention.
I go every year!
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
If you think you’re gonna become a successful tattooer in one year just because Instagram or TikTok make it look that way, don’t bother. But if you genuinely love to draw, and you’re ready to spend days and nights studying and pushing yourself, then go for it. These days, honesty and passion pay off if you find the right people.
Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
Victor Chil, Simon K Bell, DJ Tambe, Shige… all different artists, insanely good, and what’s crazy is they still keep getting better.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
What keeps me going is knowing that after every tattoo, I’ve improved something I wanted to work on. And I know I’ll keep doing that next time too.
How do you stay at the top of your game?
How do I stay at the top of my game? I’m cursed with ambition.
What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
I want to keep growing, travel the world, and finally meet all the artists I’ve been talking to who’ve become friends over time. Before moving to the U.S. and getting my work visa, I was actually called to join Ink Master, the timing wasn’t right back then, but I’m not gonna lie… it would be a pretty exciting challenge now.
Do you have a sponsor? If so, what could you tell us about your sponsors?
I’m proud to be sponsored by EZ Tattoo. Since joining this amazing family, I’ve met some truly kind, down-to-earth people who’ve supported me from day one. Both the artists and the team made me feel right at home.
Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
If you made it this far, thank you for reading my interview! I hope I’ve inspired at least one of you with my story. And of course, big thanks to World Tattoo Events for this opportunity!
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