01Full Color
Colour with intent
Vivid compositions, bold contrast and skin that seems to breathe. Colour is what won Samourai Best of Show and Best of Big Tattoo Color.
Realism · Full Colour · Black & Grey
Your story.
My art.
Bespoke realism by Samourai, a Brazilian artist based in Lisbon. Every piece starts with the story of the person who’ll wear it — and is drawn for that skin alone.
12×International
champion
champion
Best of Show · 2026Award-winning piece
Ilton NetoSamourai
12×International titles
28KInstagram followers
7Countries tattooed in
10–19hEvery day, by appointment
Selected Work
The work speaks
before we do.
Best of Show
2.º
The artist before the tattooist
It started with his grandmother’s brush.
Samourai’s first influence was his paternal grandmother, a painter. Drawing and painting have been part of his life since he was five or six. Tattooing came later, at around 27 — not as a hobby, but as a career decision: to study, to keep improving and to build a style of his own.
“I didn’t come this far to be just another name. I came to grow, to learn, to win — and to leave my mark.”Samourai
- Childhood
His grandmother, a painter, opens the door to drawing and painting.
- Decision
He turns professional, set on studying the craft and building a signature.
- Realism
He specialises in realism, in both Black & Grey and Full Colour.
- On the road
Work in Portugal, Brazil, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg.
- On stage
12 international titles at conventions across Europe and Brazil.
- Today
A private studio in Benfica, Lisbon. Bespoke projects, with AI as a creative tool.
Realism
Two ways of working.
One identity.
Light, texture and volume are the foundation. Colour or black and grey is simply how the story gets told — chosen together, with the skin, the placement and the years ahead in mind.
01
02Black & Grey
Shadow, depth, stillness
Portraits, religious pieces, animals and full sleeves in black and grey — soft gradients that age well and gain character over time.
Cover-up
Some tattoos deserve
a second story.
Drag to compare. A good cover-up doesn’t hide — it transforms. The design is built around what’s already on the skin.
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfterYour story
The story is yours.
The interpretation is mine.
Nothing here comes off a flash sheet. It starts with listening — the drawing comes later.
- 01
Listen
What you want to represent, why, and for whom.
- 02
Concept
The story becomes a visual idea with its own symbols.
- 03
Composition
Designed around the placement, the scale and how the body moves.
- 04
Refine
We adjust it together until it’s unmistakably yours.
- 05
Tattoo
Unhurried sessions in a private setting.
AI + creation
AI suggests.
The artist decides.
Plenty of clients turn up with AI-generated images — and many of them simply don’t work on skin. Samourai uses the technology to explore ideas, but the eye, the composition and the execution are always his. A real example:
Explore
AI helps test moods, references and variations in minutes.
Filter
The artist separates what works on skin from what only works on a screen.
Draw
The final composition is his own — made to fit the body and the story.
Private studio
No shopfront.
No rush.
Samourai Tattoo isn’t a walk-in shop. It’s a private studio in Benfica, seeing one client at a time — strictly by appointment.
PrivacyOne-to-one sessions, no walk-ins.
HygieneSingle-use materials, sealed needles and fully covered surfaces for every session.
Time for your pieceEvery day, 10am to 7pm, by appointment.
Rua das Pedralvas, 15Benfica · Lisbon · Portugal
Get directions
12×
Recognition
International champion,
twelve times over.
Titles won at conventions in Portugal, Brazil, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. A few recent highlights:
February 2026
Best of Show
Plus Best of Big Tattoo Color — for the same piece, a full leg in colour realism.
June 2026 · Portugal
2nd place, Colour
Peniche Tattoo Convention. Three days tattooing live, in front of the judges and the crowd.
France
Best Artist + Best Tattoo
Two awards at the same event: one for the artist, one for the work.
“It wasn’t luck. It was vision, hours of silence, hard decisions and the nerve to avoid the obvious.”Samourai
Pro TeamStencil EmpowerPeach Cartridge
Project request
Tell me your story.
Seven quick questions. At the end, your message arrives on Samourai’s WhatsApp, neatly laid out — just check it and hit send.
There’s no price list: every quote depends on the concept, the size, the placement, colour and the number of sessions. That’s why we start with the story.
FAQ
Before you book
How much does a tattoo cost?
There’s no price list. Each quote depends on the concept, size, placement, complexity, colour and number of sessions. Send a project request and you’ll get a quote tailored to your piece.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Yes — a deposit secures your date and comes off the final price. Rescheduling terms are explained when you receive your quote.
How long does it take?
It depends on the project. Smaller pieces can be finished in one sitting; full sleeves, legs or back pieces take several sessions, with breaks for the skin to heal.
Can I see the design beforehand?
Yes. The design is built from your story and refined together before the session. Nothing gets tattooed without your approval.
Can I bring an AI-generated image?
Yes, as a reference. Many AI images have anatomy or detail errors that won’t hold up on skin — Samourai uses the idea as a starting point and creates an original composition.
Do you do cover-ups?
Yes. Send a clear, well-lit photo of the existing tattoo so we can see what’s possible.
How should I prepare?
Get a good night’s sleep, eat beforehand, moisturise the area in the days before and avoid alcohol the night before. Wear comfortable clothes that give easy access to the area.
What about aftercare?
You’ll get aftercare instructions at the end of the session. In short: keep it clean and moisturised, and stay out of the sun, the sea and the pool while it heals.
Do you tattoo clients from outside Lisbon?
Yes — many clients travel in for their sessions. Let us know the dates you’ll be in Lisbon and we’ll plan around them.
Your story.
My art.
Share the idea, even if it’s still rough. We’ll shape the rest together.