Thai Tattoo Bangkok
by BKK INK
Neo-Thai takes traditional Thai imagery, deities, mythology, sak yant motifs and temple iconography, and reimagines it in a bold, modern, illustrative style. It is one of the most distinctive pieces you can wear home from Thailand, and the signature of our artist Jack.
What is Neo-Thai tattooing?
Neo-Thai is where Thai heritage meets contemporary tattooing. It draws on the iconography of centuries of Thai art, gods and mythological figures, yantra and Khom script, temple ornament, the guardians and creatures of Thai Buddhist and folk tradition, and renders them with the bold outlines, depth and illustrative energy of modern tattooing.
The result keeps the meaning and symbolism of the traditional imagery while feeling current and personal, rather than a museum copy. It is unmistakably Thai, and unmistakably now.
Which Thai figures can you wear?
The motifs in the gallery above all come from the temples and stories you can see around Bangkok. The yaksha, the giant guardians with fierce faces and tall crowns, stand at the gates of Wat Phra Kaew, a 20-minute walk from our studio. Hanuman, the white monkey warrior, comes from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana painted along the temple's gallery walls (the Wikipedia article on the Ramakien tells his story). The naga, the serpent of water and protection, runs along temple roofs and staircases; the garuda is the royal bird; and the singha is the guardian lion.
Each figure carries its own meaning, protection, strength, loyalty, good fortune, and Neo-Thai keeps that meaning while redrawing the figure with modern depth, colour and movement.
Who tattoos Neo-Thai at our studio?
Neo-Thai is Jack's signature. Self-taught, tattooing since 2012 and with us since 2024, he built the style around his own vision rather than a house template. He also tattoos Japanese, fine line and old school.
Because these figures carry real cultural meaning, modernising them without losing that meaning is the hard part, and it is exactly what Neo-Thai asks of the artist. See the related tradition on our Sak Yant page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Neo-Thai and Sak Yant?
Sak Yant is the sacred tradition of yantra designs and Khom script that carry specific blessings. Neo-Thai is an aesthetic style that reimagines Thai imagery, including motifs inspired by Sak Yant, in a bold, modern, illustrative way. One is a blessing tradition; the other is a contemporary art style rooted in Thai heritage. See our Sak Yant page.
Can Neo-Thai be done in colour?
Yes. Neo-Thai works in bold black-and-grey and in rich colour, depending on the piece and your preference. Jack will advise on what suits your subject, placement and how it will age during your free consultation.
How much does a Neo-Thai tattoo cost?
Neo-Thai starts at 4,000 THB, which is roughly the first hour: 1,000 THB of materials plus 3,000 THB per hour, the same rate for all twelve of our artists. You pay for the time actually spent, under a maximum agreed before we start. On our size grid, a medium A5 piece usually lands between 8,000 and 15,000 THB and a half-sleeve between 25,000 and 50,000 THB. See the full pricing guide.
How do I book a Neo-Thai tattoo?
Send us your idea or a photo of the Thai figure you like, with a photo of the area and your dates in Bangkok. An artist looks at every photo, and we reply within 24 hours. Small and medium pieces can usually be done the same day; for a large piece, book ahead, up to a year in advance. A deposit, from 1,000 THB for small pieces, secures your date.
Neo-Thai draws on centuries of temple murals and mythology; the Wikipedia article on Thai art is a good introduction to that imagery.