About

My name is Stef Bastiàn. I’ve been tattooing for over 20 years, and I spent 10 of those on the road, traveling the world, working in as many shops and conventions as I could, learning directly from some of the very best.

I’m originally from Florence, Italy—a city where art is everywhere—and that’s probably where I developed my aesthetic taste and sense of style. My very first encounter with tattooing came from an old-timer in my neighborhood, the Italian icon Maurizio Fiorini. Later, I had the chance to work with him briefly, and through his endless stories I absorbed the first foundations of tattoo ethics. He was a true master of storytelling, and his way of passing down wisdom shaped the way I see this craft.

Because of my personality, I’ve always been fascinated by the many layers of tattooing and everything that surrounds it. That curiosity pushed me to create side projects alongside my tattoo career: from Stef Bastiàn Presents, a series of charity-oriented exhibitions that brought together hundreds of artists worldwide, to publishing books, to launching my podcast Tattoo Tales, where stories from the tattoo world come to life. In recent years, I’ve also been drawn more and more toward teaching—through painting seminars and now my mentorship program—so I can share the lessons I’ve learned (and the mistakes I’ve made) to positively influence the new generation of tattooers.

My journey began in street shops, where I honed the basics by tattooing all kinds of everyday requests, exploring different styles along the way. Over time, I gravitated toward a more traditional approach—Americana and Japanese-inspired. My focus today is to honor and perfect the classics while staying true to what makes a tattoo strong, timeless, and well-crafted.

At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to create tattoos that not only look great and last, but also give clients the most pleasant and memorable experience possible. Because in the end, it’s all about the people.