Italian tattoo artist Alessio Carradori has earned a name for himself with his incredible high contrast black and grey realism tattoos.

Based in his own tattoo studio, Black Label in Pistoia, Alessio’s work is predominantly based on statues, mythological figures, and iconic films and shows.

We spoke to Alessio about who he learned to tattoo with, the difficulties in working text into tattoo designs, and the artists he’s dying to collaborate with!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a child I wanted to be a vet! I have always loved animals, and I have always wanted to save them all!

How did you get started as a tattoo artist?

I bought my first machine at 19 but after having done a couple of tattoos on myself I gave up, until at 25, after a year of apprenticeship and many drawings, I decided that this would be my life's work.

 Who helped or inspired you the most at the beginning of your career?

Murran Billi was my teacher, and I worked with him for about six years. He taught me everything, and for this I will always be grateful to him.

 How did you find your signature style - and what do you call it?

It took me a long time to find my way of working. Every time it seemed there was something that didn't convince me, until I had a printing error where all the half-tones had been deleted. It made me understand that I had to increase the contrasts, with a lot of black and lots of clean skin! I don't think I can give it a name, but maybe we can call it “high contrast black and grey”.

 When did you set up Black Label Tattoo Studio, and who works there with you?

I opened Black Label three years ago with the very specific idea of ​​wanting to surround myself with positive people who each had their own style and now I can say I have succeeded! Alongside me is Dario Nicoli who works in Japanese ornamental, Massimo Cioni, and the apprentices who are slowly starting to find their space: Crystal and Ciano.

 Do you prefer working with images from pop culture or finding your own?

I usually use images from the internet, but I always try to modify something to make the tattoo unique so that if I were asked for the same subject as another artist, the tattoo would still be different.

 How do you design one of your larger composition pieces?

When I have to design my large pieces the first thing I do is photograph the part of the body to be tattooed, after which I start looking for references. With Procreate I see the composition, but before starting the stencils I do a final test with the printed images to see if they look good on that part of the body.

How difficult is it to work text into your designs?

Even if it seems simple, it isn't at all; depending on the text and the font you use, the meaning of the tattoo totally changes... many use a subject and then a random piece of text, and I assure you that it is noticeable!

 Why is it so important to show images of your healed tattoos?

For me, it is essential to show the healed tattoo because it is my work ethic. It’s useless to make a nice soft tattoo with light shades for a social network photo if after 6 months it needs to be completely rearranged... my works are often better after healing than when they’ve just happened

 When is the best time to get healed tattoos from your clients?

I think the best time is October; being Mediterranean, our skin tends to tan easily and throughout the summer period the skin is really tanned, sometimes too tanned to be able to work well... I think from October to December are the months best for getting a healed tattoo photo.

What is your setup for taking tattoo photos?

I have always used smartphones, but a year ago I started using a professional camera.

 Can you talk us through your workstation please?

Of course! I always work with the products of my sponsors: Kuro Sumi, Must, Colordragon needles, and everything else is obviously by Killer Ink!

 What is your favourite tattoo you’ve done in the last year?

My favourite tattoo of the last year is Laurel and Hardy, but the Taxi Driver piece is the one I'm most fond of.

 How many tattoos do you have, and do you have a favourite?

I have many tattoos but I can't tell you the number. Perhaps my favourite is the one on my neck, done when I was still an apprentice.

 Do you ever do collaboration pieces? And is there anyone you’d really like to collaborate with?

Yes! For a year now I have been collaborating with my colleague Kelly Red, we have already done two jobs together mixing realistic black and grey with traditional colour, and we are really happy with the result! Other artists I would like to collaborate with include Rich Harris for his graphic contrasts, and Zhang Po for his soft nuances. It would be nice to try mixing these styles!

Do you have any conventions or guest spots lined up for 2024?

I have many conventions scheduled every year. I love conventions! I think it's the best way to meet other artists and exchange ideas and advice, and it's also the best way to measure yourself against them. I will be participating in the conventions in Lyon, Copenhagen, Brussels, Turin, and Verona. As for guest spots, I think I will return to my friends at Artfaktor and Lebenslaenglich in Germany.

 Which artists are doing incredible work right now?

An artist I love who in my opinion is doing a lot of great work is Fábio Guerreiro. I love his large-scale compositions!

 What do you enjoy doing outside of tattooing?

I love travelling, and thanks to my work I have managed to reconcile the two things. Conventions and guest spots take me to fantastic places, so in a normal year I can find myself in Europe and Turkey!

 What does the future hold for Alessio Carradori?

What does the future hold for me? I don't know! I hope to meet new people, see new cultures and grow as an artist and as a person. I’m not thinking about opening a new shop, but you never know! Killer Ink would be the first to find out!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our chat with the talented Alessio Carradori! Make sure to follow him on Instagram or Facebook to see the latest, or visit Black Label Tattoo Studio in Italy to get your own masterpiece.