Tattoo artist NAM — Silence That Speaks Through Ink
In a world where everyone strives to speak louder, there are artists who choose silence instead. They step away from the noise of social media, from the endless chase for attention — to focus on what truly matters: art, depth, and humanity.
One of them is the tattoo artist from Israel, Noam Shukrun, better known as NAM.
In a world where people show more and hide less, I chose the opposite — to remain in the shadows, let the art speak, and focus on evolution.
Today, NAM defines his style as “black abstract realism.” It’s a striking blend of realistic elements with powerful abstract compositions, deep black tones, and negative space.
My style lives in the tension between emotion and precision. It’s a balance between chaos and structure.
His ability to merge realism with abstraction is not just the result of technical skill, but of an innate sense of form, rhythm, and emptiness. He feels the world deeply — and that makes his tattoos vivid and emotionally charged. There’s a unique tension in his work, an understated but well-balanced visual dramaturgy.
Over the past nine years, Nam has refined his style through consistent exploration and real-world experience. He worked in several respected tattoo studios across Israel, including Jellyfish Tattoo, Inkpoint, Urbanbody TLV, and more. His creative reach expanded beyond the studio with the curation of his own solo gallery exhibition titled "Anonymous," showcasing the fine art roots of his tattoo language.
Noam grew up in Be’er Sheva, in the south of Israel. The youngest of four brothers, he sensed from an early age that he was different — drawn to express thoughts through imagery rather than words.
When I was five, my teacher asked us to draw a face. While everyone drew a simple smiley, I drew a man’s profile — the teacher was shocked.
Childhood drawings, temporary tattoos, video games with design features — all of this laid the foundation for his future. As a teenager, Noam created and sold tattoo designs in the virtual world of APB Reloaded. At 19, he realized this wasn’t just a hobby — it was his life. He ordered his first tattoo machine on eBay, set up in his parents’ basement, and began practicing.
I believe real art can’t be taught. You can study it, sure—but being an artist is something that either lives in you or it doesn’t.
NAM rarely speaks during tattoo sessions. He puts on his headphones, dives into the process, and, in his words, enters “the zone.”
It’s nothing personal — this is how I ensure I’m doing my best. My clients respect that.
He doesn’t build his career on flashy marketing but on an atmosphere of trust, meditative calm, and total focus. There’s no place for chaos here — only the person, the skin, and the art.
Behind his outward composure lies deep sensitivity. NAM went through burnout, depression, and took a six-month break from tattooing. But that time became a turning point.
The silence helped me remember why I started and fall in love with the craft all over again. That mental dip allowed me to come back stronger.
NAM doesn’t participate in conventions or chase millions of followers. He deliberately avoids long waitlists, limiting bookings to no more than a month in advance.
I like being in the moment, flexible and free to create when inspiration strikes.
Still, he has worked with prominent names and took part in the Healing Ink project — an initiative where artists cover the scars of trauma survivors, helping them reclaim their bodies and their stories.
Among his recent pieces, NAM highlights a special tattoo made for his friend and fellow artist, Yoandry Silvera. This is a portrait of Pablo Picasso.
It’s a cover-up — a true explosion of style: realistic, abstract, negative space, black. It’s on someone very close to me — and that gives it even more meaning.
Cuban-Israeli tattoo artist Yoandri Silvera, with over 20 years of experience, shared:
Nam is one of the most unique personalities and artistically gifted artists I've met — and I've met many on my path. I'm proud of him and honored to call him a friend.
No noise — just focus, my machine, and headphones.
NAM is an artist who doesn’t play by anyone else’s rules. He doesn’t chase trends, doesn’t build a public persona, and doesn’t sell himself — he creates. And that’s his power. He chooses silence to hear what truly matters. He rejects the noise to stay authentic. And in every line of his work lives raw depth, perfect balance, and personal truth.
Comments (0)