Robby Latos
 

Robby Latos is a black and grey tattoo artist and one of the founders of Damascus Tattoo Company in Damascus, Maryland. He's been tattooing for more than 17 years, and he came to it with a background in fine art. That training still shows in everything he does.

 

Robby's work is surrealist black and grey, and it leans into dark art: creatures with teeth, tentacles, and horns, built up through layers of texture until they look almost sculpted. They're grotesque, but they're beautiful too, and they're meant to make you feel something. Sadness, anger, loss, sometimes plain disgust. He uses light and shadow to build an atmosphere around each piece, so the tattoo seems to sink deeper into the skin the longer you look.

 

He sees every tattoo as a collaboration. Whether a client comes in with a fully formed idea, a personal story, or just a feeling they want to capture, Robby works alongside them to shape it into something that's entirely theirs. He takes that trust seriously, and it shows in how many clients return to him piece after piece. His collectors come from across Maryland, DC, and Virginia, and many travel from all over the United States to sit with him.

 

His work has earned awards at conventions around the country, including multiple Best in Show and Tattoo of the Day wins. He's been featured on the cover of 24/7 Ink Magazine, Skin & Ink Magazine called him a "texture master" in a 2021 interview, and he's sponsored by Panthera Ink and Tattoo Armour USA. Just as important to Robby is giving back. He's one of the founders of Spring Break 99, an art and education seminar series for tattoo artists, where he shares what he's learned with the next generation of working artists.

 

Ask anyone who knows him and you'll hear the same thing: he's humble, easygoing, and genuinely loves tattooing and the people in it.

To get tattooed by Robby, submit your ideas at robbylatos.com/bookings.