Evaldas Gulbinas’s love for art began at the tender age of six, when most children were outside playing, he was captivated by the worlds he could create on paper. He vividly recalls drawing castles with pencils, fully immersed in his imagination. This early passion led him to Kedainiai Art School in Lithuania, and later to the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Art in the capital, Vilnius. Alongside his formal studies, Evaldas embraced the vibrancy of skateboarding and urban culture, finding inspiration in graffiti and street life. His academic training in Lithuania was comprehensive—sculpture, life drawing, design, composition, painting, art history, and a range of other media provided a solid foundation for his versatility.
A pivotal moment came when he moved to London, UK, to pursue art academically. Immersed in the city’s skateboarding and urban art scene, he found himself at a crossroads after a severe knee injury in a skatepark. Around the same time, he noticed tattooed individuals and felt an immediate pull toward the medium. Experimenting on himself, he discovered that tattooing offered the perfect synthesis of his urban influences and fine art training.
Evaldas pursued two apprenticeships in London, honing his tattooing skills while continuing his academic path. A sculpture teacher reminded him of his broader artistic potential, urging him not to confine himself to tattoos alone. Taking this advice to heart, he balanced professional tattooing with formal studies: a Foundation in Art and Design at West Thames College, a Bachelor’s in Fine Art—Mixed Media at the University of Westminster, and a Master’s in Fine Art at the University of the Arts London. Throughout, he created gallery work alongside his tattooing practice, thriving at the intersection of applied and fine art. “Living and breathing in art and tattooing has always been pure joy,” he reflects.
Creative Process & Techniques
For Evaldas, the choice of medium is fluid, dictated by the idea itself. “Sometimes, I start with materials and see what emerges. Other times, the idea comes first, and then I consider which medium can best express it,” he explains. Drawing, painting, sculpture, tattooing, mixed media, installations, and multimedia are all interconnected for him; lessons from one medium often inform another. Painting and sculpture provide a platform for visionary ideas, while multimedia allows for layered, kinetic concepts. “I explore more when I create across different mediums than sticking to just one. I really enjoy that flexibility,” he says.
Ideas often strike him in everyday moments. A simple observation—a human leg, a passing car—can spark complex compositions, transforming into a moving sculpture, a tattoo, or an installation. For example, he imagines a human leg with a car wheel as the foot, a traffic light incorporated into the scene, and movement introduced through a kinetic installation or a tattoo. “Ideas are very important for me—they give me the creative power to bring things to life,” he explains.
Balancing concept with technical execution is equally essential. The materials themselves often carry symbolic meaning, enhancing the conceptual depth of the work. In the traffic-light-leg example, newspaper elements can evoke knowledge, civilization, and the future, transforming the piece into a reflection on society and human experience. Evaldas’s process is a dialogue between thought, material, and form, where each choice amplifies the core concept.
Inspirations & Influences
Evaldas draws inspiration from a wide spectrum of artists who push creative boundaries. Peter McDonald, Takashi Murakami, Tony Oursler, and Dr. Lakra have all influenced his approach, encouraging him to embrace bold colors, conceptual layering, and expansion across mediums. Tattooing itself is also a major influence, shaping how he observes people, communicates ideas, and incorporates narrative elements into his work.
His Lithuanian heritage continues to shape his artistic identity. “As Lithuanians, we work hard,” he says, a principle reflected in his prolific output across tattooing and fine art. Returning to live in Lithuania for the past three years, he has explored realism, merging it with graphic motifs and modern conceptual approaches. This focus has allowed him to approach his work with clarity, vision, and an eye toward the future. Inspiration, he emphasizes, is a living dialogue—a blend of cultural heritage, professional observation, and the works of visionary contemporary artists.
Tattoo Art
Tattooing occupies a unique space in Evaldas’s practice, blending technical precision with creative expression. “Tattooing is very different from other art mediums,” he explains. While some may see it as craft, he treats it as art, finding creative freedom in each commission. Communication with clients is central, as their ideas spark new directions in his work. Tattooing offers interaction and connection, contrasting with the solitary nature of studio art, which he describes as meditative.
Some tattoos challenge him artistically and emotionally. He recalls a large, full-arm cat tattoo, merging realism with graphic motifs—a playful composition incorporating black brushstrokes and a red thread. Despite a tight schedule, the project tested his skill and creativity, resulting in a piece that balanced technical mastery with narrative depth.
Collaboration with clients is key. Evaldas listens, advises, and sketches, transforming their vision into an elevated artistic interpretation. “Ideas naturally hit me from the client’s concept, and then I guide them to make it more unique and original,” he explains. For him, tattooing is a creative conversation, a fusion of personal expression and collaborative artistry.
Perspectives & Vision
Looking forward, Evaldas envisions an evolution in the intersection of fine art and tattooing, imagining more visually realistic approaches, perhaps integrating video and lifelike representations onto skin. While the future is unpredictable, he thrives on that uncertainty. “I enjoy taking on new challenges and exploring uncharted steps,” he says, reflecting the adventurous spirit that drives his practice.
He hopes his work inspires openness and individuality. For clients, he encourages originality: tattoos are deeply personal and need not mirror anyone else’s. For viewers, he emphasizes the fluidity between tattooing and fine art. “Everything can be mixed, and there are no limitations—you can go anywhere with it,” he explains.
For aspiring artists, Evaldas offers both encouragement and practical wisdom: “It’s like a game—you play with different art mediums, and the prize is the experience and growth it brings. Pick as many mediums as possible. It will pay back. Be more creative!” His perspective embodies a fearless embrace of experimentation, a commitment to exploration, and an unwavering belief in the limitless possibilities of art.