Samma Charles

Psychosexual surrealism. Organic bodies under inorganic light.

Current Work

Shibari

Reference photograph by Samma Charles — a heavily tattooed model lying on a dark wooden floor, arms bound above her head in shibari rope, lit in teal and red

Shooting my own references has always been an important part of my workflow, but until recently I didn't have the resources to do that.

Shooting a fully nude shibari shoot with a cooperative model for a tattoo, with the idea that I'd take some of the other images into new tattoo and paint projects, opened up the world of shibari — and in the few days since, it has changed my Instagram feed, and the requests I'm getting through.

A day's work on a passion project has changed my work.

Sessions are by invitation.

Apply for a session

Secret location

There's no studio you can walk into. The work is made behind an unmarked door in Oxford, England and Boston, MA

the address arrives only once you're booked.

Join the Cult of Samma
Colour realism tattoo by Samma Charles — a raccoon clutching a nude torso beneath neon pink "Trash Baby" lettering, wrapped around the calf
Surrealist colour tattoo of a multi-eyed dog's face inside a curved helmet visor, magenta and electric blue, on the calf
Painterly tattoo by Samma Charles of a rope-bound nude torso in violet and blue brushstrokes, on the upper arm
Colour portrait tattoo of a freckled woman behind shattered glass with pink lilies and a mountain lake, on the lower leg
Painterly nude portrait tattoo in teal and amber, head tilted back, on the inner arm
Surrealist horror tattoo — a screaming fanged face with hollow eyes, torn by black brushstrokes over neon pink and teal, on the upper arm
Psychosexual surrealist tattoo by Samma Charles — black and grey nude figure against a neon pink flame with "Perfect" lettering, on the forearm
Black and grey portrait tattoo lit by red neon crosses, a hand raised to the face, on the upper arm
Large-scale colour tattoo by Samma Charles of a roaring dragon and an eagle above a reclining nude figure, teal and violet, on the thigh
Surrealist collage tattoo — a woman's gaze and a skull cut by black brushwork and neon halos, on the thigh
Colour realism tattoo of a woman's face with stitched scars and roses in her hair, violet and electric blue, on the upper arm
Colour realism tattoo of a woman's face split by a red lightning bolt beneath a blood moon, on the arm

The Application

The Client List

Sessions are by invitation, not booking. You don't bring a design — if you're selected, Samma creates the concept for you. Invitations usually go out at the start of each month.

Most pieces run two to three sessions. The rate is charged per session.

Begin the application

Currently closed for commissions, Samma is only booking original designs for collectors. If you want a specific design from Samma, join the Cult of Samma to be notified when that changes.