Dragons by Filip Leu

Filip Leu
by Crash


Filip Leu is one of the most influential tattoo artists of our time, and rightly so. Tattoos by Filip are greatly sought after and those who possess them are considered fortunate. His fine art works also are in high demand and he regularly shows his paintings in galleries across the US and abroad. And he is a founding member of the now famous Art Fusion Experiments so popular at major tattoo conventions worldwide.

As a young tattooer myself, I recall vividly his first few articles published in the early '90s and also remember how soon after that his work was being digested and copied by tattooers all over the United States and the world at large. His legacy thus far is one unsurpassed in breadth and scope…and, if truth be told, has only just begun.

His shop, The Leu Family’s Family Iron, in Lausanne, Switzerland, is visited almost daily by fellow tattooers, hoping to get work done by Filip and, with any luck, learning something in the process. How is it that one so young in life and career has attained so much attention and admiration?


Filip’s father, (the late “Don Feliz," a.k.a. Felix Leu) and his mother, Loretta, were both tattooing during Filip’s early years- (Filip actually received his very first tattoo at 10 years of age from his father), and it was from them that Filip would begin to learn the craft of tattooing when he was 11. But his education would not end there. By his 18th birthday Filip would travel the world mastering his craft and being tutored by masters of the art in Bombay, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Tokyo, San Francisco, Florida, and New York City. He gained instant notoriety around the globe the moment his work hit tattoo publications and he has successfully maintained his status of pioneer since day one.

His style of tattoo work, both original and yet still tributary to traditional tattoo imagery, has grown in popularity since his introduction, and one may enter virtually any tattoo shop in the world, particularly across Europe, and find either someone who imitates Filip’s style or who knows someone who does. His impact cannot be overemphasized.

It is possible to obtain work from Filip, but since he is in great demand patience is required in order to do so. Filip is on the lookout for (as is obvious from his most recent works) full bodies to tattoo and his goal is to do as many full body suits as possible. But Filip is not above doing “smaller pieces”- full sleeves, backs, rib panels, etc.

He occasionally attends the finer tattoo conventions and it may be possible to set up an appointment for one of them. Good luck and I sincerely hope you enjoy his work.


If you have any interest in getting tattooed by Filip, please contact him at:
The Leu Family’s Family Iron
36 Avenue de France
Lausanne 1004, Switzerland
Phone: +41 21 6248708

or email: leu.family.iron@bluewin.ch

source : www.tattoocollectormagazine.com