Created by artist Christos Tsintsaris, who lost sight in one eye, BLINK has achieved doubled growth since 2023, a 25% international clientele, and a booming training programme drawing tattoo enthusiasts from across the continent.
BLINK Tattoo Studio is shaping Thessaloniki into one of Europe’s most exciting “tattourism” destinations, combining contemporary studio design, strict hygiene standards, and a respected education programme. Opened in 2023, BLINK has already doubled its bookings, with demand projected to grow by another 50% this year. With over 4,500 five-star Google reviews, BLINK has become Greece’s highest-rated tattoo studio and is emerging as one of Europe’s leading destinations for body art.
Founded by Christos Tsintsaris, BLINK represents artistry born from perseverance. After permanently losing sight in one eye in 2019, Tsintsaris rebuilt his approach around accuracy, composition, and personal narrative — a creative vision expressed through BLINK’s specialisations in fine line, minimalist, and black-and-grey realism.
“I didn’t lose my perspective; I gained focus,” said Tsintsaris. “Tattooing marks life’s turning points. BLINK exists to honour those moments with discipline, ethos, and creativity.”
Artists and educators collaborate to continue the tradition
BLINK Tattoo Studio is a bold newcomer to Greece’s body art scene, providing tattoos, piercings, and jewelry alongside professional training for emerging artists. The studio’s distinctive yellow winking-emoji mark has become a shorthand for “seeing differently,” and is even requested as a tattoo by fans. What began as a playful emblem now symbolizes resilience, echoing tattooing’s enduring role as a medium for personal storytelling.
Beyond client work, BLINK is a recognized educational hub. Through BLINK Seminars, Tsintsaris and his team train emerging tattoo, piercing, and PMU (permanent makeup) artists from Greece, the Balkans, and beyond. Group sessions, which are held every two months with 30 participants, combine theory, live demonstration, and hands-on practice. Private training is available year-round, with all participants earning a Certificate of Completion recognized by industry partners in Greece and abroad.
“Our mission is not just to teach craft, it is to shape artists who carry discipline, ethics, and creativity into every piece they create,” says Tsintsaris. This commitment to skill-sharing reflects the apprenticeship traditions that have kept tattooing techniques alive across centuries, evolving without losing their roots.
Tattourism is a fast growing trend
BLINK’s client base is around 25% international. The studio’s reputation has also given rise to what Tsintsaris calls “Tattourism”. Clients traveling to Thessaloniki specifically for a tattoo, often making a short holiday of the trip. Moreover, the studio’s piercing department is one of the fastest-growing in Northern Greece, known for impeccable hygiene, premium materials, and a wide jewelry selection.
“They get their tattoo or piercing, enjoy the city’s food and culture, and return with something truly unique that is more often than not the same price or less than they’d pay back home,” he says.
BLINK regularly hosts international guest artists, flash tattoo events, and industry-specific workshops, helping position Thessaloniki as a creative hub for body art. This openness to exchange mirrors tattooing’s long history as a shared cultural practice, passed between communities and continually reimagined.
From symbolic skin markings to contemporary fine-line designs, tattooing has always been a way to tell stories on the body. BLINK Tattoo Studio carries that tradition forward with resilience, reinvention, and the belief that the way we choose to see the world creates the world we see.
BLINK Tattoo Studio is a Thessaloniki-based destination for tattoos, piercings, and professional training. Founded by Christos Tsintsaris, BLINK blends contemporary aesthetics with rigorous standards and an education ethos that prepares the next generation of artists. The studio regularly hosts guest artists, flash events, and industry workshops, contributing to Thessaloniki’s reputation as a creative hub for body art.