Meet Ali Dundar

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ali Dundar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ali, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

In Turkey, I had already built a reputation as a tattoo artist, especially for pet portraits. My work was known, I had a steady rhythm, and I was also involved in helping animals that were living in difficult conditions. It was a big part of my life and identity.

Then my wife, our cat, our dog, and I moved to the United States.
And suddenly we were back at zero, new country, new rules, new challenges, no community. We had to learn everything again from scratch: how the industry works here, how to connect with people, even how to rebuild our confidence.

I think my resilience comes from that moment and realizing that the life you built once can be built again, if you are willing to work, stay humble, and keep creating.

I owe so much to my wife. She’s incredibly talented, and the way we support each other has been one of the biggest sources of strength in my life. Together we created a new home, a new career path, and a new sense of belonging here.

And just like in Turkey, I continued helping animals whenever I could. Giving tattoos in exchange for donations to local rescues keeps me grounded. It reminds me why I started art in the first place to connect, to give something meaningful, and to make someone’s life a bit better.

So my resilience doesn’t come from being naturally strong.
It comes from rebuilding, from caring, from staying committed to my craft, and from choosing to move forward even when everything around me feels uncertain.

That’s what keeps me going.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a tattoo artist specializing in highly detailed pet portraits and fine-line realism. What makes my work special is that it’s deeply emotional — every pet I tattoo carries a story, and I try to capture not just the likeness, but the personality and spirit behind their eyes. It’s a very personal connection between the client, their lovely animals, and my art.

Another important part of my brand is giving back to animals in need. In Turkey I was already involved in helping stray and injured animals, and I’ve continued that here by offering tattoos in exchange for donations to local animal rescues in New York. It’s my way of using art to make a small but meaningful impact.

Recently, I also joined a powerful project called Mark of Life, where artists help cancer survivors transform their radiation marks and chemotherapy scars into meaningful designs. It’s an honor to be part of something that gives people a sense of closure, confidence, and beauty after such a difficult journey. I hope this work brings comfort and strength to the individuals we serve.

What excites me most right now is growth — expanding my portfolio, connecting with more clients, and continuing to develop as an artist. I’m also working on new collaborative projects with my wife, including themed flash sets and charity-focused pieces. And since my work is based heavily on capturing true emotion in portraits, I’m always exploring new techniques to bring even more life and depth to my designs.

In short, my brand is built on art, empathy, and community — honoring beloved animals, helping the ones who need support, and creating meaningful work that stays with people forever.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, there are three qualities that shaped me the most and carried me through every stage of my career: consistency, empathy, and humility

1. Consistency
Tattooing is a craft that rewards patience and steady work. Nothing happens overnight — your lines get cleaner, your eye gets sharper, and your confidence grows by showing up again and again, even on days when you feel stuck.
For anyone starting out, my advice is simple: don’t chase speed, chase consistency. Small improvements every day will take you farther than trying to rush into being “perfect.”

2. Empathy
Most of my work is built on emotion — especially with pet portraits. People sit in my chair with stories about their animals, sometimes joyful, sometimes heartbreaking. Being able to listen, to understand what that pet meant to them, and to translate that feeling into a tattoo is a huge part of the job.
If you want to develop empathy, spend more time observing and listening than speaking. Let people share their story. That connection is what makes the art meaningful.

3. Humility.
Moving to a new country taught me the importance of staying humble. Even if you were accomplished elsewhere, sometimes life asks you to start again. Humility helped me learn, adapt, and grow without letting ego get in the way. For beginners, I’d say: stay open. There’s always something to learn — from other artists, from clients, and even from your own mistakes.

At the end of the day, I’m constantly evaluating my own work, trying to understand what I can do better, and where I can grow. My goal has never been to chase money — it has always been to create meaningful work, to improve my craft, and to contribute something positive through what I do.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Over the past year, one of my biggest areas of growth has actually come from outside tattooing — through food. I’ve become deeply interested in street food and restaurant culture, spending a lot of time cooking at home, experimenting with flavors, and exploring new spots around the city. I also created a new Instagram page and started posting my recipes 😀

It might sound unrelated, but learning about food has taught me patience, creativity, and attention to detail in a completely different way. It also helps me reset mentally and stay inspired as an artist.

This curiosity keeps me growing, both personally and creatively.

(I add more question) maybe it works better for you you can choose which one better—
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I’ve been lucky to grow alongside incredibly talented artists and mentors throughout my career. The people I’ve worked with friends, colleagues, and the artists who guided me early on—played a huge role in shaping my technique, discipline, and understanding of what it means to be a professional in this field.

Outside of work, my wife has been the biggest source of support in my life. She reminds me how beautiful life can be, even during the hardest moments, and she’s pushed me to stay focused, grounded, and brave enough to start over when we moved to the U.S. Her belief in me has made a bigger difference than anything else.

—Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in? Why?

I’ve always believed that improving our weaker areas is just as important as developing our strengths. Even if we can’t fully transform those weaknesses, simply being aware of them changes how we carry ourselves. It makes us more humble, more respectful, and more open to learning from others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alidundar.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali_dundarrr/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/dundar_tattoo/