Czech tattoo and graffiti artist Igor Mitrenga creates his unique “graffitirealism” style of body art from his co-owned YART Tattoo Space in Prague, as well as frequently visiting New York for guest spots.

Igor’s work is bold, bright and colourful, often combining elements of graffiti with colour realism and lettering work.

We spoke about the pipeline from graffiti to tattoo artist, how his designs are composed, and essential advice for apprentice artists.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I guess I never had any idea what I wanted to be. I was interested in a lot of things as a kid, but I never had a clear idea of whether I wanted to be an astronaut, or a football player, or a garbage man, or what most kids wanted to be.

A significant turning point was when, as a child, I watched my mum drawing decorative writing on the notice board at school (she's a teacher). The writing resembled graffiti and I began to emulate it and become interested in writing. Later on, around sixth grade in elementary school, I started noticing the painted trains and became interested in graffiti. It's very deep in me to this day and I still try to devote all my free time to it.

How did you get into tattooing, and how long have you been tattooing for?

I never wanted to be a tattoo artist! Once I got the opportunity to pick up and try a tattoo machine, I got a tattoo on my leg. I remember the feeling to this day. In some ways I saw it as just another form of graffiti, but as we all know people have skin and it can't be washed off (f*ck the buff!).

I've been tattooing for nine years, and I dare say I've kept a very strict approach and pace for the whole nine years. Whatever I've done in my life I've tried to do 110%, but tattooing has captivated me so much that I've been doing it 200% for nine years. I'm constantly thinking about style, technique, and trying not to be all over the place.

How would you describe your current art style?

My style is quite familiar and unique: I call it “Graffitirealism”. It's a combination of graffiti with realistic elements. The added value is of course the graffiti, which is my own. So, every design starts on the wall. I paint graffiti on the wall, take a picture of it, and use the elements I like in my tattoos.

Another typical element of my style is torn paper, which I work with a lot, or layers that go over each other like a collage.

Last but not least, I would like to mention the atypical compositions that are very prominent in my style.

How do you go about designing one of your tattoos?

This is basically what I described in the previous question. Of course, the customer plays a big role. Most give me free rein, which is probably the best possible situation for creating more artistic tattoos. Then I have the space to get what I really think is the best out of myself.

Often, I work with the client's idea or their ideas and together we come up with a design based on the information they give me, but it is always my style; I am not able to change my style on the spot. My main concern is that the tattoo is exceptional, and of high quality.

If someone wants me to tattoo something I can't identify with, I'd rather refuse. It's not that I'm afraid to step out of my comfort zone: on the contrary, I step out of it very often to constantly push the limits and push myself to develop. But it's also about the feeling side of things, and if I don't feel something, I don't try to change that feeling in myself.

Can you tell us about YART Tattoo Space and who works there with you?

YART Tattoo Space is our studio and base in Prague. It's a place where I spend much more time than at home, and at the same time it's the place where I feel the best when working.

I founded it together with my best friend and colleague in one person Daniel Pech, known as the.pecho. We've been working together for many years, so we're on the same page and know what to expect from each other. It just works!

Gradually we have expanded our team and currently there are six of us. Each of us focuses on a different style, so the diversity of our studio is wide. We're not the classic downtown studio waiting for walk-in tourists. Our studio is in a beautiful riverside building, has a large terrace, and everything you need. Times have changed, and just as tattoos have changed, so studio space must move forward to provide clients with the greatest comfort and sense of convenience. We take tattooing quite personally, so how people feel about it is very important to all of us!

Which tattoo artists are doing the best work right now?

The best work, in my opinion, is done by those who approach tattooing responsibly, focusing on quality and technique. They build their style gradually and always try to be one step ahead of the majority. They don't go with the trend, but work on something more valuable than the current trend. In recent times, there are a lot of tattoo artists who just copy someone else's work or put other tattoo artists' styles together and pass them off as their own style. I find that ridiculous and sad at the same time. I really don't appreciate that.

What’s your favourite subject or theme to tattoo?

There are a lot of these things, but I don't want to name them specifically. Often I come across something I wouldn't normally notice, and when I'm designing I discover a huge potential in it and try to work with that thing more. So I'm not going to be specific, because you never know!

What’s the most difficult thing for you to design or tattoo?

Probably the hardest ones I would say are the clients who need to have a story in their tattoos. Most of the time these are very strong and emotional themes such as love, family, life, death, grief, etc, and these themes are very hard to process. I often avoid them. I generally think of tattoos as more of a visual thing than a meaning thing; I'm more concerned with how the result looks than what it means. I think of tattoos more as art, even though I know they're not…

Do you prefer to talk through your sessions, or listen to music?

It's not always the case, but I usually work with headphones. I recommend the same to my clients. For me, it's mostly because the headphones and the music create a bubble around me that makes me feel like I'm in a different place than I really am, so all my concentration goes into exactly what I'm doing and that's very pleasant. It makes me feel good and I enjoy the process.

Can you talk us through your workstation?

Over the years, I've developed a certain setup of things I use. I've basically tried most of the products the market has to offer and I've stuck with the best ones. Killer Ink is my main dealer for this stuff.

My machine is currently the FK Irons Flux Max - it fits well in my hand, and the battery lasts a long time, although I always need two for my work because my tattoo sessions are long.

Intenze are my colours, and I like to mix my shades. Intenze especially, after healing, looks the best. I use KWADRON needle cartridges, and I found a needle setup that consists of two magnums, one liner, and two round shaders. I never use any other combo.

Then on my table you can find Hustle Butter to keep the skin fresh - and you know that smell, right?!

What do you get up to when you aren’t tattooing?

I usually paint graffiti somewhere. I don't like to rest, I like to keep myself in the cycle of things, that way the mind stays in motion and you get a wealth of inspiration. But I must also mention that I like to spend time with my family, friends and my dog.

Will you be visiting any conventions in 2023?

This year I participated in Gods of Ink in Frankfurt and Empire State Tattoo Expo in New York. I'm going to the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Los Angeles and then it's wide open!

I have to admit that lately I feel that conventions don't fill me up as much as they used to. I'm trying to focus on style and technique in my tattoos now. I'm working on a lot of other things related to tattooing and art, but I won't reveal more about that for now.

What’s the best thing about being a tattoo artist?

You can do it anywhere in the world, which lets you travel and meet lots of people. Everything about it is the best, you know. It's my life.

What advice do you have for apprentice tattoo artists?

Everyone should realise that even if tattooing looks like fun on the outside, you need to be aware of the great responsibility involved. After all, this is a tattoo that stays with people for life, and there is no room for any mistakes. This may be daily routine for us, but for the clients it is a special day and a great experience, and we need to think about that.

What’s great in Prague that people may not have heard of?

There's a YART tattoo space in this town and it's a place everyone should know about!

What does the future hold for Igor Mitrenga?

Who knows?! But I really hope that the future will bring a lot of inspiration and interesting projects and ideas.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this chat with the brilliant Igor Mitrenga! Check out more of his work on Instagram or Facebook, or visit YART Tattoo Space in Prague.