Aung Swe Oo

I'm Aung (Azo), a 31-year-old tattoo artist from Myanmar. Surrounded by art and tradition from a young age, I began tattooing at 13, captivated by the challenge of working on living canvases. Although I started with painting, tattoos soon became my focus for their personal and permanent nature. In 2015, I turned my passion into a profession by opening ASO Tattoo Studio in Yangon. Here, I craft detailed tattoos and teach around 150 students. My work is about connection and storytelling through ink, reflecting my journey as an artist. I've received several awards throughout my career: 2016: First place for Best of the Day at the Myanmar Traditional Ink Workshop; first place for Best of the Day (Ink Color) and third place in Black and Gray at the MTTAF Tattoo Contest. 2017: First place for Best of the Day at the 4th International Samui Tattoo Convention. 2019: First place for Best Arm/Legs Color and Best Cover Art at the Singapore Ink Show; first place for Best Legs Color Portrait and second place for Full Back at the Gold Fingers Tattoo Expo. 2023: First place for Best Cover Art at the New York Empire State Tattoo Expo; second place for Best Sleeve (Arm or Legs); first place for Best Large Color, Best Color Portrait at the Golden Tattoo Expo, and Best Cover Up. 2024: Second place for Best Arm/Leg Sleeve Tattoo and Best Portrait Tattoo at the Twin City Tattoo Festival. I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of my craft and making impactful tattoos.