Now Booking In Austin
Thoughtfully Crafted Tattoos
Not sure where to start or how big to go?
I’m happy to help you create something that fits your idea and your body.
Submit your idea and I’ll personally follow up with availability and next steps.
Andrew Matela
Austin, Texas Tattoo Artist
Art Focused Tattoos
Custom Tattoos By Andrew Matela
Founder and Co-Owner | Art Realm Tattoo — Austin, Texas
I’m a custom tattoo artist in Austin, Texas, founder and co-owner of Art Realm Tattoo. I specialize in realism, surrealism, black and grey, color, and detailed custom work, and I’m known for cosmic and futuristic designs.
Every tattoo is built around your idea, your anatomy, and your story. I work one client a day, from small personal pieces to full-scale projects.
What I Specialize In
Custom Tattoo Designs
Realism and Surrealism
Black and Grey Tattoos
Color Tattoos
Portrait Tattoos
Cosmic and Space-Inspired Tattoos
Abstract and Geometry
Cover-Ups and Reworks
Why Clients Choose Me
Studio owner and full-time professional tattoo artist
Fully custom designs
Fine-art driven approach
One-client-per-day focus
Strong communication and planning
Versatile style across subjects and techniques
High attention to detail and composition
Real feedback from clients who trusted me with their work.
Hannah and Caleb Brady
★★★★★
Andrew is incredible. He did my first big custom tattoo and the experience was amazing. He really lets the design process be a collaboration and takes a lot of pride in his work. Insane attention to detail and genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve met. 10/10!
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Drew Forrester
★★★★★
Andrew’s attention to detail is next level. The work is clean, professional, and better than I imagined. The whole experience felt easy and relaxed from start to finish.
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Jessie Ramsey
★★★★★
Andrew is an incredibly talented artist and puts so much effort into making sure your tattoo is perfect. He gave me one of the coolest black and gray realism tattoos I’ve ever seen, and I will definitely be back when I’m ready for my next piece.
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Amber Johnston
★★★★★
Andrew’s work is outstanding. I couldn’t be more impressed with his work and his ethics. Andrew went over everything thoroughly with me and made sure I was happy with it. The shop is very clean and has beautiful artwork inside. Highly recommended if you’re looking for original and professional work.
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Ara Q
★★★★★
Andrew Matela is by far one hell of an artist, great work, so creative and very unique on each one of his pieces. If you’re looking to get some quality work, I’d definitely recommend.
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Lindsy Frank
★★★★★
I’ve been seeing Andrew for several years now and always leave a happy customer. Super friendly, cares about his clients and their ideas. Flexible and understanding.
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Travis Rippe
★★★★★
Could not ask for more! The artists, the studio and most importantly, the result was amazing. Andrew immediately replied to my first message and was friendly, knowledgable and very helpful in the early stages. The day of my appt I arrived and he had everything drawn exactly as we had discussed. He was able to make a few quick changes right there on the spot and the full stencil gave me a great idea of what the end result would look like. As for the process, Andrew was quick, efficient and a joy to talk to (and I hate small talk so 6 hours of good conversation is rare).
The studio was impeccably clean, comfortable and quiet. The booths were fully separated which made conversation much easier. The location was also in a great spot where I didn't need to worry about my car all day which isn't always the case with other studio locations around town.
The final results were absolutely amazing and I couldn't be happier. My father also went to Andrew at Art Realm and had the same amazing results. He's clearly an artist who is passionate about tattoos and his work shows it. The fact that he's also a good guy is just a bonus.
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Ben Ahrens
★★★★★
I finally decided to get my first tattoo. I could not be happier with my decision and going with Andrew Matela. I was extremely impressed with the entire process. My tattoo came out better than what I even imagined. Andrew made the experience very easy and he is an amazing artist. It was low stress and he turned my idea into a piece of art I will never get tired of looking at.
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Roy James
★★★★★
Andrew is a true artist. Everything he does feels intentional and well put together, not just something slapped on. You can tell he takes pride in the work and cares about the outcome. Shop’s clean, professional, and the whole process is smooth. Easy to trust him with something permanent.
Best advice or new clients: give him some freedom with your idea and let him do his thing. That’s where his work really stands out.
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