Grand Prix 2024 Kyiv: How One of Poltava’s Top Tattoo Artists Conquered the Capital in Black-and-gray Style.

• • Winning the legendary Kyiv Tattoo Festival is a recognition of mastery at the national level. There, a tattoo artist from Poltava (Ukraine) created a masterpiece that won the hearts of the judges and the Grand Prix. In this exclusive interview, Valentin Dudko discusses the triumph in the “Black-and-gray Tattoo” category and announces a new stage of his career.
  • Participating in major festivals is always a stress and a challenge. But the story of our collaboration is a true success story at the Grand Prix 2024 Kyiv. How did it all begin?

Moment of Truth, the Challenge, and a Ford Mustang

• • I remember that period well. As an artist representing Poltava (Ukraine), I always strived for more. After the last tattoo festival held in Kharkiv, I radically changed my strategy and aimed to enter the top tier of the best tattoo artists. To do this, I had to create something beyond the limits of possibility. Ahead was the Kyiv festival with a Ford Mustang at stake. This was a chance to prove that realism in my execution deserved the highest award.
  • That was when the idea of collaborating with Kazhan was born. I realized that the best solution would be to join forces with my friend Illya. Preparing for this level of competition requires immense dedication.

Battle with Anatomy

• • Work on the sketch began three months before the event, and that’s where we faced a serious challenge — anatomy. The model had characteristically protruding shoulder blades, which prevented us from “placing” one solid large project across the entire back. We had to find a compromise and break the form into three objects. Choosing the right sketch took a lot of time.
  • We decided to work in the direction of black-and-gray tattooing, without color. We were ready for battle.

(Here is your photo from the process)

Part 2: Grand Prix Triumph and Future Horizons in Boston

• • The festival took place in the spring, and we arrived at the location early in the morning. We were fully aware of the volume of work — it was colossal. Working in tandem is always more difficult than working alone: you have to share the space and coordinate every movement.

Two Days of Marathon and Absolute Victory

• • At a festival of this level, as always, the competition was fierce. We worked two days in a row on the same model. During this time, we completely finished the entire back.
  • Surprisingly, everything went extremely smoothly. Despite the complexity, we practically didn’t interfere with each other. On the contrary — we worked harmoniously, like a single mechanism. We took into account every anatomical nuance and every detail we had agreed upon during the fitting stage.

• • And then came the moment of truth. These were incomparable emotions that will stay with us forever. First, we were announced as winners in the “Collaboration” category. That was already great, but it automatically meant we became contenders for the main award of the festival.
  • And when it was announced from the stage that we took the Grand Prix… it was an explosion. All that journey and the effort spent were justified in a single moment. We didn’t just win a car or a trophy; we proved to ourselves that we are among the best artists and are capable of creating history.

What’s Next? Boston, USA

• This victory marked the end of one stage and the beginning of another. I am proud to be known as one of the leading masters of black-and-gray tattooing in Ukraine. But it is time to move forward.
• I plan to move to Boston, USA. My goal is not just to work, but to become known as a Boston tattoo master, bringing my experience in black-and-gray realism and European quality to the American market. Boston has an incredible tattoo