By Mary Smith
Sumok Kim, a South Korean tattoo artist located in New York City, is quickly making a name for himself as a leading voice in contemporary realism tattooing. Known for his highly detailed, photorealistic black and grey work emphasizing on nature, animal portraits, and increasingly, Eastern aesthetics, Kim has caught significant acclaim, including being recognized as one of NYC’s top artists and winning multiple prestigious international awards.
Kim’s journey to becoming a sought-after tattoo artist is quite unconventional. Beginning his career selling children’s books, his interactions with illustrators ignited a burgeoning interest in drawing for Kim. This newfound passion led him to explore tattooing independently in 2015. Entirely self-taught, he honed his skills through dedicated online research, leveraging platforms like YouTube, and crucially, learning from the experiences and techniques shared by fellow artists he encountered. This dedication to aspiring learning remains a core philosophy for Kim. “I appreciate that there is no limit to improvement in tattooing; there is always something new and exciting to learn,” he said.
His professional trek has included working in diverse, unique locations such as Toronto (at Chronic Ink), Vancouver, and Seoul. Since 2022, he has broadened his practice internationally, traveling and tattooing in various countries before cementing his base in the vibrant New York City art scene. This global perspective represents his work, providing a unique eye on his subjects and techniques.
Sumok Kim’s signature style is characterized by its exceptional detail, precision, and photo realistic quality, resulting in producing timeless images rendered primarily in black and grey ink. His early work is often focused on capturing the intricate textures found in nature and the expressive nuances of animal portraits, driven by a deep appreciation for the natural world. He often translates personal experiences and visual references, even visiting places like zoos to gather his own photographic material, into unique custom designs.
More recently, Kim has expanded his thematic lens to incorporate Eastern-themed subjects, drawing inspiration from Asian aesthetics, including samurai and mythological figures. Reflecting on the cultural differences, he notes a distinction in the meaning of tattoos between his homeland and the West. “In Korea, I think the focus is more on getting a ‘cool’ tattoo rather than the means behind it. In the West, people seem to care more about the meaning and storytelling behind their tattoos,” said Kim.
His venture into Eastern aesthetics, particularly samurai and Japanese styles, taps into a popular trend in North America. Kim attributes this interest to the exotic and rare nature of these themes for Western audiences compared to their familiarity in Korea and Japan. “Eastern cultures have many stories about spirits and old superstitions, which are quite fascinating to Western audiences,” he noted. He elaborated on the meaning behind samurai tattoos, explaining they symbolize honorable death, strength, justice, and power, inspired by historical warriors. He also finds a great personal and artistic satisfaction in creating Chinese Zodiac and mythology-themed tattoos, highlighting their appeal for representing clients and their families or exploring rich narrative possibilities.
Kim cites Dutch Master Rembrandt as a significant artistic influence, admiring his technical brilliance, expressiveness, and the depth his work reveals upon closer inspection. Among contemporary tattoo artists, he admires Sergio Fernandez, a New York-based black and grey artist renowned for his impactful Greek mythology designs.
Kim’s technical repertoire and artistic scope has not gone unnoticed in the competitive tattoo world. He has accumulated an impressive list of accolades at major conventions, underlining his mastery of realist black and grey tattooing. His awards include numerous 1st and 2nd place finishes in Realism and Black and Grey categories at shows including the Vancouver Tattoo Show (where he won “Best of Show” in 2024), the London (Canada) Convention, the Markham Convention, and most recently, dominating several categories at the prestigious NY Empire State Tattoo Expo in May 2025. This recent succession in New York City further concretes his standing in the U.S. market.
Beyond convention awards, Kim’s work has been featured in many prominent publications such as Forbes, Ink Ppl, and Boy Girl Tattoos. His growing influence is also reflected in his substantial online presence, boasting over 60,000 followers on Instagram. Further solidifying his status within the NYC tattoo scene, he was voted by Ink On Sky as one of the top 10 tattoo artists in New York City in 2025. Kim is also a recognized industry figure, serving as an ambassador for Mast Tattoo Needles’ Pro Team.
Looking towards the remainder of 2025, Kim plans to continue his investment with the broader tattoo community by attending several U.S. conventions. “I want to share my work with more people and learn even more by meeting other artists,” he stated, reinforcing his philosophy of continuous learning and improvement that has guided him from his non-traditional beginnings.
From a non-traditional beginnings selling books to mastering the meticulous art of realism on skin, Sumok Kim has rapidly ascended to prominence in the tattoo scene. His dedication to detail, mastery of black and grey, and evolving thematic exploration continue to attract a global following and critical acclaim, cementing his position as a versatile, creative and highly influential artist in the vibrant and competitive New York City tattoo landscape.
