Szidonia Gergely Calgary - canada @sziditattoo
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
With a journey that spans borders—from Transylvania to Hungary, from London to Calgary—Szidónia has shaped an artistic identity as international as it is unique. In the recent DGN Tattoo Magazine International Competition, she was selected as one of the top five artists among more than 100 participants from around the globe. This recognition came from a prestigious jury composed of Paul Booth, Jesse Smith, Victoria Lee, and Shi Ryu. She also took first place in the Color Realism category, firmly establishing herself as one of the most outstanding voices in contemporary tattooing.
In this interview, Szidónia shares her path, her challenges, and the passion that fuels both her work on skin and her explorations in oil painting.
1.You’re originally from Transylvania, grew up in Hungary, and spent eight years working in England. How has that international journey influenced your identity as an artist?
The biggest change was when I moved to England. It was completely different compared to Hungary,the culture, the people, everything felt new. Clients were much more open to my style, which really helped me grow as an artist. England opened the door to international guest spots and valuable connections. While living in London, I was lucky enough to meet and work alongside artists I truly admire, and to build friendships that are still lasting today.
2.Szidónia, you were awarded first place in Color Realism and selected among the top five artists at the DGN competition by Paul Booth, Victoria Lee, Jesse Smith, and Shi Ryu. What was that experience like for you?
I felt truly honored, each of them is a star in their own field. As tattoo artists, our work gets judged daily by clients and even by strangers, but receiving feedback from respected professionals is on a completely different level. Whether it’s praise or critique, it means so much more when it comes from someone who understands this craft deeply.
3.You started your tattoo career right after finishing university. What led you to choose tattooing as your professional path?
Tattooing was a completely random idea at first, but I always knew that whatever path I chose had to involve art in some way. Art has always been at the core of who I am, and once I started tattooing, it just clicked.
4.Where are you currently based, and what is your daily life like?
I’m based in Calgary, where I recently opened my own studio (SzidiTattoo Studio). Lately, my days have been pretty full with settling into the new space, decorating, tattooing, and in between all that, trying to carve out a bit of time to work on my painting skills. It’s a busy but exciting chapter.
5.You work in the color realism style, which requires great precision. What draws you to this style, and what challenges does it present?
I just love working with colors. There’s so much depth you can express,not just through contrast, but through the warmth and coolness of certain tones. Skin isn’t a blank white canvas, so translating those subtle shades becomes much more challenging. In painting, you can say a lot with chroma and the interplay of warm and cool tones, and I try to bring that same complexity into my tattoo work.
6. You also paint in oils. How do these two forms of expression—tattooing and painting—connect in your artistic work?
It’s definitely the hardest balance. I feel like when I focus too much on tattooing, my painting skills start to slip, and if I spend too much time painting, my tattooing can suffer. But for me, painting is essential. It’s the foundation of how I understand light, color, and form. The only way I can truly grow as a tattoo artist is by constantly practicing and improving through painting.
7.What themes or elements inspire you when creating your designs?
I’ll be honest,I’m not the strongest when it comes to design. I work with realistic references, so for me, it’s more about how that image translates onto the skin,the application, the technique, the execution. Sometimes I even use black and grey references and improvise the colors as I go. It can be stressful, but it also gives me more freedom to experiment.
8.What would you like to explore or develop in your art over the next few years?
I’m really drawn to painting inspired tattoos, especially those based on classical masterpieces. One of my biggest goals is to one day tattoo one of my own original paintings. Translating something so personal onto skin would be an incredible experience.
9.If someone wants to get in touch with you, how can they reach you?
Right now, I’m most active on Instagram:
You can also check out my website for more info and my portfolio:
Or feel free to email me directly at:
10.To wrap up, is there anything you’d like to share with those who follow your work—or those who are just discovering it?
I lost my previous Instagram page a few years ago, so I’m in the process of slowly building it back up. Any likes, shares, or follows would mean a lot and are truly appreciated,it really helps support my work.
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