Ball BKK
Meet Ball BKK
Ball BKK’s portfolio
A selection of realistic and neo-traditional pieces.
What clients say about Ball BKK
Who is Ball BKK, the founder?
I started tattooing at 15 on a Bangkok market where I pushed delivery carts to earn my place. A working tattooer took me under his wing, but made me draw for three full years before letting me touch a machine. Now it is the discipline I built this whole studio on: draftsmanship first, equipment second.
I turned professional at 18, won my first trophy at 21, and at 24 took a 1st prize at the Mondial du Tatouage in Paris, still the only Thai artist to have won 1st prize there. In 2009 I founded BKK INK right at the end of Khaosan Road, and as co-owner I still work the floor like everyone else.
What styles does Ball BKK tattoo?
Ball BKK works in two styles: Realistic and Neo-Traditional. Realism demands restraint, letting skin tones and shadow do the work; Neo-Traditional asks for confident outlines and saturated colour. Seventeen years of holding both lets him judge which a piece actually wants. Learn more on our realistic tattoo Bangkok page.
The Mondial du Tatouage in Paris, where Ball won 1st prize in 2014, remains one of the most prestigious tattoo conventions in the world.
Why three years of drawing first?
A machine is just a tool, if you cannot draw the subject, it only makes the mistake permanent faster. Those three years taught Ball BKK to see proportion, light and shadow before any ink existed, so the hard decisions are made before the needle moves.
Awards & recognition
- Mondial du Tatouage, Paris 20141st prize, Best Back or Bodysuit
- Stockholm Inkbash 20142nd, Best Realism
- Pattaya International 2011Winner, Best Realistic
- Singapore Ink Show 20231st, Best Sleeve + Best Collaboration
- Singapore Ink Show 20252nd, Best Collaboration
- MBK Tattoo Contest, Bangkok 2014 & 2015
Frequently asked questions
What styles does Ball BKK specialize in?
Realistic and Neo-Traditional. His realistic work covers portraits, animals and large black-and-grey or colour pieces; after 17 years he is best known for multi-session realistic back pieces.
How can I book a tattoo with Ball BKK?
Book through our booking page or message the studio and ask for him by name. His calendar fills early, so larger pieces start with a free consultation to plan the design, agree a maximum price and set a date.
What languages does Ball BKK speak?
Ball BKK and the team work in English, French and Thai, so visitors near Khaosan Road can plan a piece without a language barrier.