MARIN YORDANOV – TATTOO ARTIST IN COLOGNE
I am Marin Yordanov, the tattoo artist behind Yordanov Arts in Cologne. I have worked as a professional tattoo artist for 12 years—first in London, where I ran my own studio, and now in central Cologne. I specialise in realism, black and grey, dark realism, portraits, cover-ups and large custom tattoos.
Before moving to Cologne, I worked in London, where I operated my own tattoo studio. During that time I completed a wide range of individual projects and developed the way I plan compositions, work with anatomy and build tattoos that remain strong over time.
I take time to understand each client's idea rather than simply copying an image. Every design is developed for the placement, the natural flow of the body and the person wearing it. In realism and dark realism, detail matters, but so do contrast, depth, readability and the overall composition.
If you are looking for an individual tattoo artist in Cologne for realism, black and grey, dark realism, portraits, cover-ups or a large-scale project, Yordanov Arts is my personal artist brand. My aim is to create tattoos that are technically clean, distinctive and visually strong as a complete piece.
My process begins with understanding the idea, placement, approximate size and reference images. I then develop a custom concept that fits the anatomy and natural movement of the body. Once the direction is clear, the design is refined for the exact placement so the final tattoo works both technically and visually.
Facts at a glance
Artist: Marin Yordanov – independent tattoo artist (Yordanov Arts)
Location: Schildergasse 92, 50667 Cologne (city centre), Germany
Experience: 12 years; before Cologne, he ran his own studio in London
Styles: Realism, black and grey, dark realism, portraits, animal realism, cover-ups
Large projects: Sleeves, back pieces, chest pieces
Design: Custom-made, never copied from other tattoos; shown on the day of the session
Appointments: By appointment only; short-notice slots sometimes available
Enquiries: Enquiry form – idea, placement, size, references
WHAT I SPECIALISE IN
Realistic portraits: Portraits are among the most demanding subjects in realism. Whether it is a family member, a loved one or a memorial piece, I work from a high-resolution photo and focus on proportions, expression and soft transitions, so the face stays readable for years.
Animal realism: Lions, tigers, wolves and other animals, tattooed in black and grey with realistic fur texture, strong contrast and depth.
Dark and surreal realism: Creatures, skulls, reapers and surreal compositions are a large part of my work. Atmosphere, light and shadow matter as much as detail.
Cover-ups: An old tattoo can often be covered with a darker, detailed realism design. I give an honest assessment based on photos of the existing tattoo.
Sleeves, back pieces and chest pieces: Large projects are planned as one complete composition across multiple sessions, so every element follows the flow of the body.
COLOGNE, GERMANY AND EUROPE
I work as an independent artist at Cologne City Tattoo in Cologne city centre. Many clients are local, and others travel from across Germany and Europe for their project.
HOW BOOKING WORKS
Send your idea, placement, approximate size and reference images through the enquiry form.
I read every enquiry personally and reply with an assessment and suggested dates.
A deposit secures your appointment. Please read the deposit terms first.
I show you the design on the day of the session and fine-tune it to the placement.
Appointments are by arrangement only, usually between 11:00 and 19:00, and short-notice slots sometimes become available. See more of my work in the portfolio, or read the FAQ.