Meet Oleksandr Rudenko, who has carved out a space for himself in the world of black and grey realism. Originally from Ukraine and now based in Lörrach, Germany, Oleksandr brings a haunting elegance to every piece he creates. Since turning professional in 2017, his artistic journey has taken him from local studios to international tattoo conventions, earning accolades like “Best of Show” at the Freiburg Tattoo Convention. In this interview, he shares his origin story, creative process, and the heavy-metal spark that first set him on the path toward tattoo mastery.
For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
My name is Oleksandr Rudenko, I’m a tattoo artist originally from Ukraine, currently based in Lörrach, Germany. I specialize in black and grey realism as well as cover-up tattoos. I’ve been working professionally since 2017, although my journey began 6–7 years earlier when tattooing was more of a hobby for me.
Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?
My fascination with tattoos started when I was a kid and got into heavy music. I admired many of the tattooed musicians I saw, and that visual style made a big impression on me. That early inspiration eventually led me into the world of tattooing.
At what point in your life did you become a professional tattoo artist?
I decided to turn my passion into a career after quitting my full-time job. I enrolled in art school to improve my artistic foundation and started taking advanced masterclasses from well-known tattoo artists. That was the turning point when I fully committed to tattooing professionally.
How would you define your current tattoo style and how did you end up focusing on it?
I’ve always been drawn to darker themes, like horror films and surreal imagery, so black and grey realism felt like a natural fit. It allows me to express mood and emotion in a very detailed, impactful way.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
One of my proudest achievements so far is winning the Grand Prix in a collaboration with @wow_one_art at the Freiburg Tattoo Convention. The following year, we also took Second place together — both moments were deeply motivating.
How do you balance creativity with the client’s personal vision?
First and foremost, I always listen carefully to the client’s ideas. I see it as a collaboration, we work together to merge their vision with my creative approach to achieve the best result.
Please walk us through your process when you start a new tattoo for your customers.
It all starts with a consultation, where I ask the client to share reference images or general concepts. From there, I suggest ideas based on my experience and we build a custom design together before moving into the tattoo session.
What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I’ve taken part in numerous conventions, both in Ukraine and Germany. One that stands out was my very first one in Kharkiv, I won Second place, and that early recognition gave me a huge boost of motivation to keep growing as an artist.
Did you also ever bring home any Best of Show prize?
Yes, I won Best of Show at the Freiburg Tattoo Convention in 2024 and returned the next year to win second place in a collaboration category. Competitions like that help push my boundaries and keep me evolving.
What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
Right now, I’m fully focused on developing my skills and growing as an artist. I’m also exploring opportunities to expand internationally, where the path leads next, we’ll see.
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