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Dr. Woo Is Hollywood’s Most Wanted Tattoo Artist
By Kelli Luu | 28 Jun, 2025
With his fine line art and stunning sketch tattoos, Dr. Woo is going far beyond the needle building a global brand.
You’ve seen his work on A-list celebrities, but you’ve probably never seen the face behind the art. His fans call him Dr. Woo and he’s become a cultural icon turning fine tattooing into unbelievable art.
Taiwanese American Brian Woo was born and raised in Los Angeles. At just 11 years old, he began experimenting with his talent doing DIY stick and poke tattoos after school then got his first professional tattoo at 14.
As he got older he worked as a fashion buyer developing his own clothing brand. During this time, he was constantly competing with his friends to see who had the most tattoos.
Dr. Woo and his friends spent a lot of time being tattooed by Mark Mahoney, one of the world’s most respected tattoo artists. After many years of hanging out at the Shamrock Social Club, Mahoney’s Los Angeles tattoo studio, he offered Brian an apprenticeship which he happily accepted.
Brian worked as Mahoney’s apprentice for three years learning techniques and cleaning up workstations before tattooing his first customer. Since then he has been known for his ultra fine lines and pieces that look like drawn sketches.
By 2013, his minimalist aesthetic went mainstream and had clients waiting months for a session. Celebrities like Drake and Zoe Kravitz were making sure to book with Dr. Woo, adding to the buzz around his work.
In 2017 he opened his own tattoo studio, Hideaway at Suite X, inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and in 2020 he launched a line of skincare products, including body moisturizer and tattoo aftercare treatments.
His most recent endeavors are a collaboration with D’usse XO for a limited edition glassware, being a father to his two sons, and entertaining his 1.6 million Instagram followers.
From a rebellious teen to a renowned artist who learned to master his style leaving a lasting impression on his clients.
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