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Hi! I’m André Melo,

Brazilian Tattoo Artist,based in Porto, Portugal.I have over 10 years of experience as a tattoo artist. My work is developed within my own artistic language, with influences from Blackwork, Sketch, Watercolour and Abstract.I create unique tattoos, impossible to copy.

If you’ve made it this far, it’s because something caught your attention and you want to know a little more about my work.Hi, my name is André Melo, I’m “mineiro” and sometimes I let out a “uai”. I was born in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. Of course, I like pão de queijo, but if there is one “trem” that I really like, it is “paçoca”.

How I arrived at my language

What led me to the language and style I have today started with the lack of tattoos in Sketch. I was already used to making more finished Sketches: I would leave the lines loose and finish with some defined lines, leaving all the marks necessary in the construction.Something that was always present was the desire to do something different. At the time, there were not many professionals doing Sketch in tattooing.Over time, my work evolved and I started mixing Blackwork techniques. As I have always liked colour, the freedom of Watercolour captivated me. I started painting with this technique when I began studying application techniques and how to tattoo.Over time, I started adding details such as stains and splashes, abstract lines, brushstrokes and other abstract forms.All the fluidity, freedom, contrast and chaos present in my work have been built over the years.

My journey

Despite being “mineiro”, I only learnt and started tattooing in 2015, when I was living in São Paulo, the capital.I eventually worked in cities such as Belo Horizonte, Brasília, among other cities in Brazil.I spent a long period in Dublin, Ireland, in 2022, and a short period in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2023.Since 2024, I have been tattooing here in Portugal.

Awards

During my first two years of tattooing, I took part in several tattoo conventions and was awarded 11 times.There were 7 award-winning Blackwork tattoos and 4 award-winning drawing series: 1 colour series, in Watercolour, and 3 black-and-white series, in Blackwork.