Medieval knights, dragons, Japanese warriors, classical sculptures, and mythological figures — all of these can be found in the work of Roman Sirko, a Ukrainian tattoo artist who has been living and working in Toronto, Canada, for the past three years. Roman has been tattooing for six years and is currently part of the team at La Manigans Tattoo Studio.
His main focus is black and grey realism. Roman's tattoos stand out for their bold contrasts, carefully rendered textures, and intricate compositions in which every element has its place. Metallic armor, flowing fabrics, dragon scales, and stone sculptures come to life through his use of light and deep shadows.
His large-scale projects are particularly fascinating. Rather than simply placing several images next to each other, Roman aims to connect them into a cohesive story while working with the natural anatomy of the body.
A great example is his sleeve depicting Saint George slaying the dragon: the character's wings emphasize the shape of the shoulder, while the curves of the dragon's body carry the composition down the arm. Equally impressive are his religious-inspired pieces, where highly detailed imagery meets bold black shading and ornamental elements.
Roman's work, however, goes beyond historical and mythological themes. His portfolio also includes more traditional subjects of realism, such as a large-scale composition featuring a skull surrounded by flowers. Here, he uses the contrast between delicate, light-colored petals and a dark background to create a striking interplay of textures.
Over the years, Roman Sirko has also earned recognition at tattoo conventions. In 2024, he took third place in the Best of Show category at the Quebec Tattoo Show. At the Ink the Six Tattoo Expo in Toronto, he won first place in Black and Grey Medium Realism and third place in Color Medium Realism.
