Over the years, Ilkim’s work has earned international recognition — including awards in both Bulgaria and Turkey — and built a loyal clientele drawn to his ability to merge structure with emotion. Every line is intentional; every shape tells a story.

Between 2015 and 2019, he owned and operated Istanbul’s first fully vegan tattoo studio, paving the way for a new generation of ethically minded artists.

Now based in New York, Ilkim continues to push artistic boundaries, blending microrealism, geometry, and blackwork into timeless, deeply personal tattoos that stay with people — both on the skin and beneath it.