BLACK & GREY TATTOO 1-3 is a mammoth work. Comprising over a thousand pages and weighing 10kg (22 lbs), it is one of the largest - if not the largest - tattoo book ever published! Its three large-format volumes are contained inside a lavish and sturdy hardcover box. "BLACK & GREY TATTOO explores a monochrome art form through a kaleidoscope of the most widely diverse interpretations and craftsmanly techniques, performed by tattoo artists from all parts of the world."
This tattoo tome explores the origins of black & grey tattooing - from the prisons and streets of LA to its contemporary resonance on Hollywood's red carpets, at heavy metal music fests, and in private ateliers from Budapest to Beijing. While rendered in just shades of grade, the spectrum of design is vast: Aztec warriors, fierce harpies, family portraits, religious icons and permanent shrines to celebrities adorn these pages. The common thread among them all is their inventive exposition and mastery of execution.
Black & Grey Tattoo is divided into three parts: Traditional Black & Grey, Dark/Horror, and Photorealism. Indeed, there's cross-pollination among the different styles, but the breakdown isn't just for easier lifting of this monster collection. It is to show how tattoos with similar stylistic elements are interpreted differently by stellar artists around the world. The book also presents the fine art - including paintings and charcoals - of many of those featured, although the tattoos themselves should be considered fine art.
Mammoth 3 volume: Large-format hardcover books, 24.5 x 31.5 cm, covers with silver embossing, total of 1008 pages.
(BLACK & GREY TATTOO 1 - Traditional; 336 pages)
(BLACK & GREY TATTOO 2 - Dark/Horror; 400 pages)
(BLACK & GREY TATTOO 3 - Photorealism; 272 pages)
More than 860 full-color photographs, This 10 kg (22lb) heavyweight, comes in a sturdy high-quality hardcover box inside a carrier case, Texts in German, English & Spanish.
What Journalists Say
SKIN DEEP (United Kingdom)
"Frankly, this is the motherlode of all tattoo art books. There will be no discussion on this - ever. One volume alone is enough to wipe-out a good few hours of your life - three is incredible. In total, it clocks in at over 1000 pages and weights more than a medium sized dog complete with slip-case."
