Iryna Khrystych’s Dotwork Tattoos Win International Awards

Iryna Khrystych, a tattoo artist originally from Ukraine, has crafted a unique technique utilizing an ultra-fine 3RL needle to form images from tiny dots, resulting in a delicate, translucent appearance. Over time, she fully embraced this method, which merges graphic tattooing, fine line artistry, and black-and-grey realism. Her talent has gained her global acclaim: at the 2025 Florida Gulf Coast Tattoo Expo, she secured first place for Best Back/Chest and third for Best Anime; at the 2026 Jacksonville Tattoo Arts Festival, she earned silver in Small Black & Grey and bronze for Back Piece; and at the Palm Beach Expo, she won second and third in Black & Grey. Additionally, she judged at the Divine Intervention Tattoo Convention in Kansas City. Khrystych began her tattoo journey in Ukraine while studying fine art at the Art and Technical College, where she initially painted church frescoes and icons. After working in Ukraine until 2016, she relocated to Poland, opening Upgrade Tattoo in 2019, and has been in the United States since 2025, collaborating with Cleopatra Ink. She believes her black-and-grey style caters to contemporary tattoo preferences, balancing detail and versatility while ensuring her designs enhance rather than dominate the wearer.