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Sameer Patange

Sameer Dattatray Patange (born 18 December 1979) is a tattoo artist, illustrator, abstract painter, teacher from Mumbai, India. He is known to be one of the first artists to contrive the art of tattooing in India amid the long standing stigma against body art and modification. Patange is known for his unique style of incorporating abstract and realism fused tattoo pieces which opened up a precedent in the subject of modern tattooing. His clientele includes Bollywood actors such as Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Hritik Roshan, Sushmita Sen, Raveena Tandon, late Sushant Singh Rajput, Kangana Ranaut, Indian cricketers MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya to name a few.

Biography

Patange was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He graduated from Rachna Sansad College of Art with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2003. Patange entered into the tattooing scene in a very impromptu fashion. Being heavily inspired by rock and metal music as a teenager, Patange always had an inclination towards grunge art. Since he possessed a really clean hand on paper, he started out as an assistant in 1998 to Dr. Jehangir Kohiyar who was a psychiatrist by day and a tattoo artist by night. Patange later started practicing as an apprentice under Dr Kohiyar and picked up tattooing swiftly, working with him till 2004.

Kraayonz Tattoo Studio

Patange became independent in the mid 2004s and teamed up with celebrity hairstylist Hakim Aalim in a concept Salon, carrying it forth until he moved on to give birth to his own brand name Kraayonz Tattoo Studio in Mumbai, in 2007. It is regarded as one of the top tier studios in the country. He subsequently launched branches in Goa, Bengaluru and Pune. The Goa and Bengaluru studios closed their doors in 2020, citing operational constraints due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Style of work

Sameer is perhaps known for his offbeat amalgamation of realism portrayed with abstract elements, drawing inspiration from from modern contemporary and Indo-Western style. Essence of trash polka, realism, pop, grunge, surrealism can also be observed in Sameer's pieces. Although he likes to be known as a versatile artist, Patange developed his finesse in portrait tattoos which are an all time popular sub genre in tattooing. Patange's passion for dog portraits has become his signature style, reflecting his deep love for animals. Over the years, he has garnered significant recognition in this genre, solidifying his reputation in the industry.

Influence

Sameer Patange is one of the prominent names in the Southeast Asian tattoo circuit. An avid traveler, Patange's presence has been registered in all the top tier tattoo conventions around the globe. He represented India while either participating or judging in global conventions consistently since 2010. Patange has contributed significantly to alter the perception of tattoo art in India. Through his own journey as a tattoo artist, he has provided mentorship and guidance to emerging artists, thereby playing a pivotal role in the development of tattooing as an art form in the country. He travels domestically in the country organizing seminars and workshops which reach onto inside regions where the tattoo knowledge is primitive. In 2023, he was invited by the Department of Art, Waldorf School in Denver, Colorado to deliver a guest lecture on Tattooing in Indian Culture.

Ventures

Patange ventured and co ventured some major tattoo festivals at International level with the sole motive of promoting the culture in India.

Tattoo Republic, 2011

Patange founded the first ever tattoo convention in the country named Tattoo Republic in Pune, India in 2011. He succeeded in bringing in international artists and exposure to the Indian tattoo picture. The event was partnered along with India's biggest music festivals at that time, Bacardi NH7 in Pune.

Heartwork Tattoo Festival, 2015-19

In 2015, Patange co founded the renowned Heartwork Tattoo Festival (HTF) in New Delhi, India with Lokesh Verma. The venture saw 5 highly successful editions which strengthened the foundation of the Indian tattoo scene clearing up way for the future tattooists. The event drew big international names to the country such as the likes of Paul Booth, Anil Gupta, Steve Butcher, and David Vega to name a few. The event had been well decorated with brandings and was partnered by TLC. HTF ceased to continue after its successful run for 5 years due to the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020.

Kula 2023

Patange co founded Kula in 2023, harbored by NESCO in Mumbai, India. The event marked a significant milestone and shed light on the tattoo scenario in Mumbai for the first time. It provided a platform for numerous artists to showcase their skills. However, Patange decided to dissociate himself from any future editions of the festival.

References

1. Inked for life Special feature on Times of India. (2012)
2. Leaving a mark Covered by The Hindu (2015)
3. Sameer Patange Breaks Down The Tattoo Trends Of 2017
4. Heartwork • The Indian Biggest Tattoo Show
5. Artists from around the globe attend Delhi’s Heartwork Tattoo Festival
6. 5 popular tattoo studios where your favourite Bollywood stars go to get inked Vogue India (2019)
7. Sameer patange talks tattoos with Telegraph Covered by Telegraph (2012)