Yura Plishenko, When Black-n-Grey Realism takes on a Gothic twist

Yura (or better yet, Yurii) is a Ukrainian tattoo artist and member of the ‘Claw Tattoo Collective’ in Kyiv. Let’s read his story, full of artistic inspiration and creative drive.

Hi Yura, how many years have you been tattooing, and what inspired you to become a tattoo artist?
Hi! My name is Yurii, I am 28 years old, and I live and work in Kyiv, Ukraine. I began my journey as a tattoo artist in 2018, a time that now feels almost distant, before the world was reshaped by COVID-19 and before war became part of everyday life in my country. Drawing has been with me since childhood, and it was this early passion that naturally guided me toward tattooing. Even then, I was fascinated by precision and Realism, spending hours recreating portraits with the highest possible level of detail.

Then, around the age of twenty, what happened to you?
At the age of twenty, I started working with commissioned portrait drawings. Although creatively fulfilling, the income was modest and not enough to sustain daily life. At the same time, I was studying architecture at university, but financial difficulties eventually forced me to pause my education.

Everything changed after I got my first tattoo.

In that moment, I realized tattooing could become more than an artistic outlet – it could offer independence, stability, and growth. What started as a practical decision soon evolved into something far deeper, eventually becoming the central purpose of my life.

Yours is a truly striking Black-and-Grey Realistic style with a certain gothic and mysterious touch. Does that definition suit you?
Yes, absolutely. Fantasy motifs play a significant role in my work. I’m particularly drawn to antagonists – characters with depth, contrast, and emotional intensity. Antagonists carry a strong visual narrative, which makes them especially compelling to translate into tattoo form. I believe my work is defined by its level of detail and by the careful attention given to every single element within a composition.

Do your influences come exclusively from tattoo art, or do you tattoo in a certain way because you’re also able to draw inspiration from other art forms?
My inspirations extend far beyond tattoo culture alone. Much of my creative vision comes from cinema, comics, video games, and contemporary pop culture. At times, a single paused frame from a film can become the foundation for an entire tattoo.

Other people or situations that inspire you?
Recently, I’ve also been deeply inspired by hyper-realistic collectible sculpture studios such as Queen Studios (IG: @queen_studios_collectibles), Hot Toys (IG: @hottoyscollectibles), and Prime 1 Studio (IG: @prime1studio). Their craftsmanship and attention to realism are extraordinary, and I’ve drawn from their work on multiple occasions.

Naturally, I closely follow the work of my fellow tattoo artists as well.

Their creativity continuously pushes me to evolve, grow stronger, and set higher goals for myself. Artists such as Sivak (IG: @sivak_), Thomas Carli Jarlier (IG: @thomascarlijarlier), Ralf Nonnweiler (IG: @ralfnonnweilerta2), Alex Zakharov (IG: @zakharovtattoo), among many others, have been particularly influential.

You’re tattooing in Kiev in a private studio, right?
I’ve been working in Kyiv for almost a year now. Prior to that, I spent six years living and working in Odesa, alongside one of the true legends of the tattoo industry, Dmytro Samokhin. Currently, I’m part of ‘Claw Tattoo Collective’ (IG: @claw_tattoo_collective) – a large, dynamic studio with twenty artists. Our space is built on principles of openness and mutual respect, where decisions are made collectively. Beyond work, we are a close-knit community: we spend time together, share interests, train, and support one another. It’s an environment that inspires growth, and I truly value being part of it.

Do you have a goal you’ll be working toward throughout 2026, confident you’ll achieve it within twelve months? I’m talking about both tattoo art and other areas of life…
In 2022, the war in Ukraine began, and for a long time men were unable to leave the country. Recently, I’ve finally gained the opportunity to travel and attend tattoo conventions – something I had dreamed of for many years. Over the past few years, I’ve earned multiple Grand Prix awards at Ukrainian tattoo conventions. My next goal is to bring that same level of recognition to the international stage. To prepare for this, I’m currently working on several strong, fully healed pieces, which will soon be presented on my Instagram (IG: @plishen.co).

A tattoo convention (or even more than one) where we will definitely see you in 2026?
I attended the ‘Milano Tattoo Convention’ (IG: @milanotattooconvention). Although all artist spots were already filled this year, I was there as a guest. Additionally, I plan to attend ‘Urban Land Tattoo Expo Roma’ (IG: @urban_land_tattoo_expo_roma), several tattoo conventions in Poland, and, of course, all major tattoo conventions in Ukraine. I’m confident we’ll cross paths in 2026.

And your last famous words are… ?
Always forward – toward new achievements and new victories.

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