About

b. 1986, HK.

Swissipino holding tattooed basketball in Brooklyn Bridge park

ABOUT

Artist, Hoop Head

I am the inventor/originator of B-Ball Tats - an idea born from a life centered around basketball and art. When I was a little kid, my favorite things were playing with a ball and drawing. Many years have passed, but I still can’t stop, won’t stop.

I believe in documenting and preserving a personal history, as well as keeping an eye on the world around us. Knowing the past is the only way we can create a better future. My art honors Everyman and legends, overlooked sidewalk flowers and fleeting moments of humanity in my home, New York City.

In this current project, I’m on a mission to create tattooed basketballs, that are personal pieces of art. They commemorate people’s love for the game, their stories, and their accomplishments.

Basketball is not just a game. It’s more than a game.

Curious to find out more? Read this interview in Typeroom.

swisspino in his workshop with a tattoed basketball

(very)
RANDOM FACTS

  • Began experimenting to tattoo basketballs in 2014.


  • Coached pro, college, high school, middle school and national basketball teams over a 23-year period.


  • Sold his first logo at age 17 …to a semi-pro basketball team in Switzerland.


  • Founded, co-organized and coached his own international basketball camp and tournament from 2008-2015.


  • Legendary Bobbito Garcia nicknamed him “The Illustrator” at the Full Court 21 streetball tournament in 2019, even though they’d never met before.

  • Avid street photographer since 2001.


  • Assistant coach for the Swiss National Women’s Basketball team at the FIBA Europe tournament 2012.


  • Designed media guides, posters, flyers, T-shirts, banners and even uniforms for some of the teams he coached.


  • Loves the challenge of graphic design projects, but don’t ask him to make your logo bigger.


  • As an undergrad, he made his own beats and held open mic sessions in his dorm room.

  • Once ran a full marathon in NYC …on a random Saturday… alone.

  • Was a model - …a hand model!

  • At 8 years old, he competed in an official regional swim race… even though he didn’t know how to swim.

  • If he’s not playing ball at the park, he’s surfing.


Photos by Vladislav Borimsky