Skin In The Game: Gabriele Cardosi

In the history of art there can be few greater synergies between subject matter and medium as that of Warhammer and human flesh, the latter of which Gabriele Cardosi is increasingly using as a canvas for his illustrations of orks, space marines and more.

When we saw the London based Italian artist’s work pop up on our Instagram feed it was love at first sight, his bright and bold art perfectly capturing the gleeful joie de violence of everyone’s favourite green skinned hooligans. Intrigued, we had to find out more.

Hello Gabriele, you've worked in all kinds of different mediums from pen and ink to skin and even in a collaboration with a crocheter...

I definitely like to explore many ways of expressing my creativity. Every medium has its own beauty, and every time I approach a new one, it brings both excitement and discomfort. I think it’s really important to grow by trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone.While you might have a core craft, incorporating new influences can only make it stronger. I like to study older crafts and masters, but I also believe it’s important to connect with what’s happening now—learning from the past to evolve into the future.

Regarding collaboration, I’d say that it’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t be here if we weren’t working together. Especially in art, we express ourselves to communicate and share messages and emotions with others. It’s definitely not a one-person party.

How would you describe your style? Your tattoo work has that classic Sailor Jerry feel to it, but pushing it into an even more abstract and colourful directions...

When I was younger, my first approach to developing a style was through graffiti. Bold, vibrant colors that catch your eye as you pass by, whether walking or driving. That’s exactly what I aim to achieve with my tattoos. In this modern era, we're used to seeing loads of tattoos on our screens, but real tattoos aren’t flat images that we can stare at indefinitely. They are alive, three-dimensional and they move with us.

I love my tattoos to make an impression when you see them in passing, not when you stare at them for a long time. It’s a love-or-hate, first-strike kind of situation. I achieve this with simple shapes, good contrast, bold colors, and the interplay of black and white, softened by shades of grey.

As I mentioned before, I like to draw influence from those who came before me. I can learn from their innovations and mistakes—it's like carrying on their work in a way. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War has a quote that resonates with me, “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.”

These words really stay with me. Nowadays, we have seen so much, and it’s hard to propose something entirely new. But by changing and mixing the ingredients, we can create something new that communicates an old story with a fresh flavour and excitement.

So, obviously what first caught our eyes were your Warhammer tattoos, so how did they first come about? 

When I propose new concepts and ideas for my tattoos, I like to start with something I genuinely enjoy and am interested in, so I can dive into it with love and excitement. 

Throughout my tattoo journey, I have worked with many subjects and styles, sometimes taking unconventional paths that didn’t always resonate with my audience because they couldn’t connect or understand what I was trying to communicate.

Eventually, I realized that if I wanted to connect with others and not just tattooing myself, I needed to convey a message that others could understand and love as well. 

I began reflecting on my own experiences and memories, particularly the fun times from my childhood when I would get lost in play without the stress and worries of adulthood.

In traditional tattooing, there are many iconic subjects, but I often couldn’t relate to them beyond being part of the tattoo community. So, I decided to blend those icons and styles with my own experiences—from cats wearing polos and sneakers inspired by Richard Scarry books I read as a child, to orcs riding wyverns and war bikes like the box illustrations that captivated me when walking into a Games Workshop store.

When I released these designs, I immediately saw the excitement of people who could connect with them because I was being true to myself. They say if you love your work, you won’t work a day in your life. That’s exactly what I aim to do, drawing, painting, and tattooing what I love most, and spending quality time discussing the fantastic worlds we got lost in during our childhood.

Sometimes, when you don’t know where you are, you need to get lost to find yourself. And what better places to begin with than undiscovered new planets and far-off lands?

Talking of the wyvern riding orcs what is it about Warhammer’s greenkins that appeals so much to you?

Where to start? Well, we can begin by saying that they are the best, without a doubt. They're funny, big, carefree, clumsy, brutally cunning, and cunningly brutal. They’re similar to humans but different, they are the outcasts, the different ones.

I’ve always seen myself as an outsider from the norm, wanting to stand out by being myself. That’s why greenskins resonate with me the most. Hopefully, one day I will rise to be the Warlord of my own WAAAGH!

Did you ever think you'd be inking Orks onto people? 

I definitely didn't imagine it at first, but nowadays, there’s no better day at work than tattooing or painting Warhammer-inspired designs. Honestly, I think people weren’t expecting it either. It’s something new, and I hope it grows as big as possible so that everyone who loves something unconventional can find something that fits them. I love seeing traditional sailor tattoo designs transformed into sci-fi and fantasy aesthetics.

If you love Warhammer, White Dwarf, and all the books, magazines, and board games from the late '80s and '90s, you must appreciate the amazing artwork in them. Sometimes simple and raw, other times intricate and complex, these pieces made our imaginations travel far. Collecting art from that time can be difficult and expensive, as they are rare and pricey.

When I work on commissioned Warhammer or fantasy sci-fi-inspired paintings, I can provide someone with an original and unique artwork in my own style, allowing them to treasure it without the hefty price tag. Giving people that nostalgic experience and making them happy is the best part for me.

Are there any other well known fantasy/sci-fi characters you'd love to have a go at?

I would love to work on The Lord of the Rings designs, but more from my imagination or based on old illustrations—, something with a Tolkien Bestiary vibe, not straight from the movie trilogy aesthetics, if you know what I mean.

I also really like comic books and manga, but I don’t always find it easy to change the aesthetic of other artists. 

For example, many artists have illustrated or created artworks inspired by orcs, following a general guideline but adding their own flavor. That’s what I’d like to achieve. I’d love for people to come to me with their characters and ask me to spice them up with my style and aesthetic.

You're originally from Italy, but if someone sees this and thinks they need to get inked, where can they find you these days?

I am from Rome, but I have been living and working in London for the last twelve years. I mostly tattoo in London, but I enjoy traveling and working in different places. 

I can see myself traveling more around Europe in 2025, but let's see what the horizon holds for me.

For art prints, patches & tattoo comissions or to see Gabriele’s latest work head to linktr.ee/cardosigabriele

This feature originally appeared in Wyrd Science Vol.1, Issue 6 (August '24)