10 celebrity fave tattoo artists – from Matt Damon’s Mr. K to HK’s Gabe Shum

When Angelina Jolie’s tattoo artist Mr. K posted a teaser pic of her latest tattoo, with the middle fingers blurred out, fans were quick to jump to the comments section to claim it was a “F** you” reference to her ex-husband, Brad Pitt.

The post went viral, leading the tattoo artist who shared the pic to jump in and shut down the rumours by responding with a comment saying the tat is “nothing related to Brad Pitt”. He also shared a new photo, with Jolie’s fingers un-blurred to reveal his work, and captioned an apology for any confusion and “stress” that may have been inflicted on Jolie as a result of the speculation.

But Mr. K is no nobody. In fact, he’s very much a somebody, especially in the world of tattoo artists, where he too is considered a celebrity with close to a million followers on Instagram alone. Here are 10 of the most trusted tattoo artists beloved by A-listers, that you can book too (if you’re lucky).

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1. Mr. K

Besides Jolie, Mr. K has worked with clients such as Doja Cat, Sophie Turner, Liam Hemsworth, Rita Ora and Matt Damon, to name a few. The Seoul native studied at Parsons School of Design before pursuing his career as a tattoo artist. You can find him at New York City’s Bang Bang tattoo studio, where his single-needle works and intricate micro-style draws crowds from all over.

2. Kevin Paul

Harry Styles has over 50 tattoos on his body, so it’s hardly surprising to hear that he has multiple tattoo artists on the go.

One of his speculated-about tats is his “17 Black” one, inked by Kevin Paul, who was referred to Styles by pal Ed Sheeran. According to GQ, Paul explained the meaning of the tattoo once and for all, saying: “Basically, Harry lost money gambling – I think it was in Australia – and he lost it on 17 black.”

Styles also has an “Olivia” tattoo, which is likely to be a tribute to his ex-girlfriend Olivia Wilde, the controversial director behind Don’t Worry Darling. It’s unclear which artist did this inking.

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3. Gabe Shum

Those in Asia are likely to pay a visit to Gabe Shum, a popular celebrity tattoo artist and founder at Hong Kong’s Freedom Tattoo.

4. Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy

Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy has garnered a huge following over the years thanks to his long list of happy celebrity clientele.

From recognisable designs on the bodies of everyone from Rihanna to Justin Bieber, McCurdy has inked a number of iconic tats over the years, and boasts nearly 2.5 million followers on Instagram.

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5. Jon Boy

With a studio in the heart of New York, the odd Hollywood celeb likes to pay him a visit too, like Drew Barrymore.

6. Dr. Woo

Dubbed “LA’s most sought-after tattooist” on his website, Brian Woo, aka Dr. Woo’s hyperrealistic creations have made him a hit among A-listers such as Miley Cyrus and Bella Hadid, who have both opted for his services in the past, according to Vogue.

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7. Mark Mahoney

8. Mike DeVries

With over 200,000 fans on Instagram, DeVries has become a hit among celebrities looking to get inked up, with Sylvester Stallone seeking out his skills for his colourful portrait tattoos.

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9. Jonathan Shaw

Shaw reportedly founded New York City’s oldest tattoo shop, Fun City Tattoo, in 1976, before tattooing was even legal in the city. Time and legacy have been on his side, as he’s attracted the likes of Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, Demi Lovato and Iggy Pop, according to Paper Mag.

10. Scott Campbell

This New York-based tattoo artist swapped out his career as a biochemist to learn the art of inking, according to his bio. He has since made a name for himself, after working with famous faces including Orlando Bloom, Penélope Cruz and the late Heath Ledger, and now owns and operates his parlour, Saved Tattoo, in Brooklyn.