Belén Arilla Martínez, known in the tattoo world as Belen Inktattoo, was born in Barcelona. Before holding a tattoo machine, her life revolved around drawing and airbrushing – disciplines that sharpened her sense of light, texture, and shadow. Her transition into tattooing was not a sudden decision, but the natural evolution of a visual artist searching for a medium that could bring art to life.
“When I discovered that tattooing allowed me to merge precision with expression on something as unique as skin, I knew this was where I belonged,” she recalls.
Years of airbrushing gave her extraordinary control of gradients and detail – skills that became the foundation of her now-signature black and grey colors.
“Airbrushing taught me patience and precision. You can’t rush the layers, you have to respect the process,” she explains.
This discipline translated seamlessly to tattooing, where her approach remains rooted in preparation, composition, and a relentless pursuit of quality. What began as a personal exploration has since evolved into an international career, with Belén establishing herself among the few European tattoo artists combining a fine-art background, technical mastery, and global recognition.
Belén Ink has built her reputation on a highly refined form of black and grey realism enriched with subtle tones. Her work stands out for its balance between softness and strength: delicate transitions of shadow and light combined with bold contrasts that keep tattoos clear and striking even years after they heal.
“What matters to me is not just how a tattoo looks fresh, but how it ages. I design with longevity in mind – the piece has to remain powerful and readable over time.”
Her realism is distinguished by her ability to adapt fine-art techniques – layering, texture, tonal nuance – to the living canvas of the body. For Belén, the fascination with realism has always been tied to faces – the most demanding yet rewarding subject an artist can tackle.
“A single misplaced line or highlight can change an entire expression. That challenge is what drew me in,” she explains.
Her obsession with the three-dimensional effect became her trademark: achieving portraits that feel as if they are alive on the skin. Beyond portraits, she also explores animals, always with the same goal – to capture life itself.
“Every face, every detail tells a story. Realism allows me to make that story visible in light and shadow.”
For Belén, every tattoo begins with listening, but it never ends with imitation. She carefully considers a client’s idea, then transforms it into a design that adapts to their anatomy, skin tone, and movement.
“I always work custom,” she explains. “References are just a starting point. What I deliver is a composition that carries my vision – built for longevity, clarity, and elegance once healed.”
This ensures that no two pieces are the same. Each work bears her signature style, recognized in the balance of contrast, depth, and subtle tonal shifts.
Her path to tattooing was never linear. Before dedicating herself fully to the craft, she worked in airbrushing, drawing, photography, and design. Each field left a permanent mark on how she approaches tattoos today.
“Photography trained my eye to respect light, design taught me hierarchy and negative space, and airbrushing gave me control of gradients. All of that knowledge comes with me every time I sit down to create,” she says.
Rather than separating these experiences, Belén blends them into a single language on skin. This multidisciplinary base allows her to construct tattoos with cinematic lighting, painterly depth, and architectural balance – qualities that distinguish her from many realism artists working today.
For Belén, inspiration comes from the world around her. Traveling frequently for guest spots and conventions, she draws from the art and culture of different countries, absorbing details that later resurface in her tattoos.
“I love discovering how people express themselves in different environments – from galleries to street art in a hidden corner of a city,” she says.
Everyday life also plays a role: watching people, noticing gestures, observing trends – even in design and decoration – gives her new ideas on how to interpret realism on skin.
Among Belén’s most significant works is a portrait of the baby daughter of a close friend. Executed in soft black and grey colors, the piece carried deep emotional weight.
“Capturing the innocence and fragility of a newborn in realism is a challenge,” she explains.
The tattoo, which can be seen on her Instagram @belen_inktattoo, remains one of her most personal creations. On the opposite scale, Belén highlights a full back piece completed in the Netherlands for an international client. The composition featured a massive skull, entwined with serpents and butterflies, with a dramatic hand gripping the skull. Spanning multiple sessions, the work demonstrated her technical mastery: precise layering, controlled contrast, and the integration of symbolic elements into a cohesive design. Together, these two works reflect the dual essence of her art: intimate emotional resonance and large-scale international impact.
For Belén, technical quality, artistic expression, and the emotional connection with the client are inseparable. Still, she insists that technical quality must come first, because it ensures the tattoo heals well and stays strong over time.
“Without technique, even the most beautiful idea can lose its impact,” she says.
Once that base is secure, the artistic side gives the piece character. Finally, the connection with the client makes the work personal and unforgettable. This philosophy – precision, creativity, and human connection – has allowed her tattoos to stand out internationally and to be recognized across different cultures.
Belén runs her own studio, Blinkk Tattoo Gallery, a space that has become a meeting point for both local and international clients. She also works regularly as a guest artist in Germany and the Netherlands, and continues to expand through collaborations with studios and artists who share her focus on clean, long-lasting realism.
“Traveling keeps me connected to different tattoo scenes and allows me to bring new energy back to my work,” she says.
This dual dynamic – a home base and ongoing international projects – has strengthened her profile as an artist with both local influence and global reach.
The upcoming year is shaping up to be one of Belén’s most active. She is preparing for guest spots in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as confirmed projects in Mexico and Costa Rica. Her 2025 calendar also includes multiple major tattoo conventions across Europe and Latin America, and she is confirmed for the NIX Tattoo Convention in Toronto, one of the largest and most respected events in North America.
“Each trip is more than work. It’s about building bridges with artists and collectors worldwide. Conventions and guest spots allow me to grow technically, share my vision, and bring new energy to every tattoo I create.”
Conventions have played a key role in Belén’s career, as platforms to showcase her realism and connect with the international tattoo community. Over the years, she has tattooed live at major conventions across Europe – Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain – often competing in the most demanding realism categories. But her role has gone beyond participation. In 2025, she was invited as a jury member at the Costa Rica Expo Tattoo, one of the most important events in Latin America.
“Being asked to judge was an honor. It allowed me to evaluate other artists’ work with the same rigor I apply to my own, and to contribute to the growth of the scene from a different perspective,” she explains.
For Belén, conventions are more than competitions. They are a way to push her technique under pressure, gain visibility on a global stage, and exchange ideas with leading artists.
Belén’s work is in high demand. Her schedule fills quickly, with many international clients arranging travel around appointments. Abroad, her guest spots in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium are also booked well in advance, with collectors often waiting months for a session.
“I prefer to take fewer projects than I’m offered,” she explains, “because each tattoo deserves time, planning, and full attention.”
New clients can book through her Instagram (@belen_inktattoo) or her website (ibizatattoos.es), providing details about their idea, placement, and timing. This structured process, combined with waiting lists in several countries, reflects the international demand and recognition for her black and grey realism.
Looking ahead, Belén sees the next stage of her career as a time of expansion – both in the scale of her projects and in the countries where she works. She plans to take on larger, more ambitious pieces in black and grey realism, exploring new ways to merge technical precision with storytelling on the skin.
“For me, growth means constant evolution. Every project, every collaboration, every convention is a chance to refine my technique and to share my vision with people around the world.”
Her career will continue to be strongly international. She is focused on expanding in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while also strengthening her presence in Latin America through conventions and events in Costa Rica and Mexico. She also has upcoming appearances at major conventions across Europe and North America, including the Toronto NIX Tattoo Convention, one of the most respected events worldwide.
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