Tattoo Artist
Antoine Temata
Polynesian/Maori Tattoo Artist
About me
Hi!
People call me Temata but my real name is Antoine. I am 39 years old and of French-Dutch origin. I grew up in French Polynesia in the Society Islands, in Moorea and lived there for 12 years.
I am a tattoo artist specialised in various Polynesian styles. I work mainly freehand and have been a professional tattoo artist for over 15 years.
As a child, I was interested in Polynesian culture and the different tattoo styles of the South Pacific.
I grew up with all these influences and was interested in different Polynesian cultures until they became part of my own culture and identity.
After PaoPao College in Cook Bay in Moorea and Paul Gauguin High School in Papeete (Tahiti), I then studied applied arts and social sciences in France.
Over the past 10 years, I have traveled a lot to complete my tattoo apprenticeship and have always returned to different places in Polynesia.
I have worked in different countries and tattoo studios: French Polynesia, New Zealand, but also Canada, France, French West-Indies, Dutch West-Indies, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with many artists from all over the world.
In 2020 I founded my shop in Krefeld. In 2024 I moved the studio to Tönisvorst, essentially to offer a more privileged environment to clients who come from other regions or countries and stay longer days on site, but also to have a larger work space. The new studio has been open since May 2024 and is very comfortable, but will evolve over time.
I currently live and work in Tönisvorst. The proximity to major cities such as Krefeld, Düsseldorf and Cologne is ideal for my work, as is the peace and quiet that the rural living environment offers. I continue to travel and work abroad, but I focus on my work in Germany.
Personally, I am passionate about history, anthropology and tribal culture, as well as board sports (surfing, skating), hiking, running and various artistic expressions.
I am currently preparing various projects around Polynesian tattoo culture and will summarize these in a future issue.
