black & grey tattoo artists
in los angeles
smooth gradients and shading with no color. black & grey is the backbone of realism, portraits, and chicano work — soft, dramatic, and ages beautifully.
41 black & grey artists on goodwork · real prices · book the one you want
sandra price
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melanie benoit
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level tattoo
A vintage open-top roadster with a personalized DGB plate, shaded in fine black and grey realism on the calf.
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jian liang
A black and grey realism shark glides across the upper arm, its mottled skin texture and fins rendered in fine detail.
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otaybeatdown
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shelby bianco
A finely shaded dragon winds down one side of the back opposite a cherry blossom tree dotted with pink blooms.
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vince espinoza
Weathered Stormtrooper helmet in black and grey, with fine stippling giving the armor a battle-worn texture.
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dylan aiello
A robed grim reaper carries its scythe over one shoulder, rendered in soft black and grey with a vintage etching feel on the forearm.
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josue bravo
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brian kies
A slender Japanese-style hand saw with a wrapped handle, rendered in smooth black and grey realism down the thigh.
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zealous
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johnny ayala
A black-and-grey crucifix beneath an ornate crown, with radiating light rays and soft clouds shading the upper arm.
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samantha wilks
Tumbling dice marked with card-suit pips wrapped in a stippled banner reading 'No risk, No reward,' with a hint of red in the hearts.
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humilde tattoos
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nj tattooz
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tyler_whitlock
A sculptural Medusa rendered in black and grey realism, framed by fine geometric circles with a snake winding down the arm.
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emily
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lunayflorestattoo
A vintage-styled woman rising from stormy waves inside a soft oval vignette, finely shaded in black and grey on the inner arm.
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ashynucklestattoo
Iron Maiden's Eddie suits up in a Dodgers jersey and grips a spiked bat in this detailed black and grey forearm piece.
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anoetic.designs.ultd
The Virgin Mary in soft black and grey covers the back of the hand, ringed by roses at the knuckles and a fine linework halo at the wrist.
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dretty
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megan rose
A classic clipper ship at full sail with a flag flying, grounded by two traditional flowers and finished in soft stipple-shaded grey wash.
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zitronxus
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travis ross
Black and grey realism half sleeve of a scarred Viking warrior, framed by a Norse compass above and a longship below.
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mr._folks
A cracked classical statue face with a third eye, crowned by a red halo and finished with a Sinaloa script banner at the wrist.
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edgar armas rodriguez
A black and grey armored warrior in a winged helmet draws a long blade, wrapped in smoky shading on the upper arm.
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velvet devil
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engram
A bouquet of roses with weeping faces, gathered by a flowing ribbon bow and shaded in smooth black and grey on the forearm.
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imindisoul
Full-back black and grey piece of Archangel Michael raising sword and shield over a demon, with skulls and a serpent worked into the base.
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vladimir kozachenko
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nik lucas
A black-and-grey realism scene of Pennywise the clown looming over a small child in a raincoat, framed by floating balloons.
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inkedby_g
A roaring jaguar in detailed black and grey realism crowns the forearm, descending to a Mayan pyramid and palms near the wrist.
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eddie rodriguez
A Day of the Dead woman in classic Chicano black and grey wraps the top of the foot, with lace patterning, flowers and smooth smoky shading.
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gabe motta
A large black and grey skull wraps the forearm, gripped by scaled talons with smoke curling through the eye sockets and jaw.
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dead pretty tattoos
A horror take on comedy and tragedy masks, one styled as a Ghostface scream mask, shaded in fine dotwork on the upper arm.
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garrick {gman} lee
A single long-stemmed rose in black and grey, with botanical-illustration leaf detail and delicate shading along the thigh.
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钟逸政
A finely scaled snake winds around the ankle and lower leg with lifelike black and grey shading.
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kadriya truvillion
A traditional eagle with raised wings and reaching talons, shaded in smoky black and grey on the forearm.
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christopher diaz
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chiu ray
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dean felipe
A veiled woman in black and grey realism, her flowing drapery opening onto a starry, speckled texture down the forearm.
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about black & grey tattooing in los angeles
black & grey is the backbone of los angeles tattooing. instead of color, everything is built from black ink diluted into a full range of greys — soft gradients, deep shadows and bright highlights that give portraits, statues and animals real depth. it's the foundation of both fine realism and the city's deep chicano tradition, and because it's built on well-saturated black and grey wash, it tends to age gracefully.
the range under “black & grey” is huge: smooth photoreal portraits, religious and chicano pieces, fine botanical work, and bold graphic shading. what they all share is that the whole piece lives or dies on value control — the artist's command of light and shadow — so the thing to look for is a portfolio of healed black & grey work, not just fresh photos. many of LA's best realism and portrait artists work primarily in this palette.
read: best black & grey realism tattoo artists in los angeles →
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booking a black & grey tattoo in LA
how do i book a black & grey artist on goodwork?
browse the black & grey artists above, open a profile to see their full portfolio and pricing, then send a booking request with your idea, placement and size.
how much does a black & grey tattoo cost in los angeles?
every artist on goodwork shows upfront pricing — deposits and minimums included — so you see the real cost before you reach out.
are these artists vetted?
yes — every artist on goodwork is reviewed before going live. real portfolios, real work, real people.
find your black & grey artist.
see their work, see their pricing, book the one you want.