image
ArtLebanonBeauty

by Christelle EL-Daher

5 Lebanese Tattoo Artists To Have On Your Radar

14 Jun 2025

Photo: Tahir Osman

The first edition of the Beirut Tattoo Festival took place at “Forum de Beyrouth”, in May 2025. For three days, Lebanon’s top artists and international guests came together to celebrate their love of ink, share their passion with enthusiasts and introduce new audiences to their craft via unique workshops and competitions.
This event was the first of its kind in the MENA region according to the organizer, Book Ink. Think of Book Ink as a band gig booking platform, but for the tattoo industry. Their website references talents based on several criteria like style, location, budget, and reviews. That way, clients schedule their appointment and get their beloved body art with no unwanted surprises on ink-day! In a short time, Book Ink rapidly grew into a hub for tattoo addicts and professionals alike. During the festival, I kept an eye on the stories, browsed feeds, reviewed diverse portfolios, and asked around to get you the names of the 5 Lebanese tattoo artists that you should have on your radar!

Angel David Hilal

Known for his elaborative, illustrative, in-depth blackwork and intricate fine line art, Angel is based at Dark Matter Ink, a tattoo and piercing shop in Beirut. Whether it is a minimalist piece or a complex drawing, he navigates between subtle realism and sophisticated abstract seamlessly. A quick look at his portfolio is sufficient to appreciate the dramatic flair of his needle. His feed fluctuates between insects, flora, skulls and faces. However, there is one element that is common to all his illustrations. In practically every piece, tucked between leaves, wings and faces, there is a pair of eyes with a piercing look captivating your imagination! Quite intriguing!
image
image
image

Berytus Tattoo Studio

Yes, I know. I am breaking the rules of this top five and we aren't even halfway in. But it would be a great shame to not mention this Jounieh-based collective that has a great reputation at the national level.
Given the number of residing talents, Berytus offers a variety of styles like black and grey, dotwork, fine line, minimal, micro and coloured realism. After having a good look at their residing artists, Lety’s work caught my attention. While inspecting her illustrations, one feels how lively and vivid they are. As if they are animated creatures with a heartbeat of their own, just waiting to pop out of the skin and interact with the wider world.

Joa Antoun

Joa is the epitome of an artist with a cause. She empowers breast cancer survivors by offering free areola tattoos to those who have undergone mastectomies. By going beyond the tattoo; she is accompanying cancer champions in their emotional healing journeys and quest to reclaim their bodies.
I believe that her humanist approach has endeared her to most non-inked Lebanese. We’ve seen the reports, heard the testimonials, and got hooked on her artistry. She also specializes in realism, geometric, and fine line tattoos.
An accomplished artist with a solid international reputation, Joa has a wide portfolio, which makes it difficult to choose an all-time favorite. But if I had to pick, I would select one of her coloured realistic everyday objects.

Jules Helou

For the last 12 years, Jules has been a key actor of the local tattoo community by energetically pushing for the exploration of different techniques. Nevertheless, he has a soft spot for traditional style tattooing. He is renowned for producing beautiful Neo, American and Japanese tattoos. The art inspired by Japanese culture and history marked me the most. Colored or in black, they don’t fail to fascinate.

Rudolph Makhoul

Rudolph specialises in custom designs. With a portfolio full of symbolic meanings, no two drawings are alike, and no two experiences are similar. Even if his feed may come across as a bit too dark for some, remember that he can always adapt his palette to the client’s personal preferences. He is self-taught and does blackwork exclusively.
In case you were wondering if I have any art on my body, the answer is no… at least not yet. I have binged watched Ink Master seasons. I know exactly the design and the placement I want. I would go for two colored pop-art forearm half sleeves. Why didn’t I jump to action then? Simply because I haven’t put the time to research local artists. And this is where this listicle and platforms like Book Ink come in and play a major role.
The rise of Book Ink and the success of such events is quite revealing. It underlines how tattoos stopped being a taboo in the Arab region. Contrary to common belief, the relationship between Arabs and body art is not new, as it is culturally rich and rooted in identity. Although it had its fair share of highs and lows, it dates back to ancient times. The nomadic tribes used geometric shapes and patterns to mark affiliations and status, and to protect from the evil eye. Till today these practices continue alongside the new modern styles developed by “city” artists influenced by global movements and trends. And if you are afraid of needles, or commitment, you can always try henna. Don’t let anything limit your self-expression!