Fijian Tattoo Artist in Sydney — Authentic Pacific Work in Newtown

I'm Amz — Ameo Bolaira — a Fijian tattoo artist working out of Memento Tattoo, Level 5, 292 King Street, Newtown. If you've been searching for a Pacific-island artist in Sydney and finding a lot of artists who do Polynesian as a style but don't come from it, that's the gap I sit in. I'm Fijian. I grew up with this stuff. It's not a portfolio category for me — it's where I'm from.

This page is the honest version: what my work actually looks like, how I run things, where to find me, and what it costs. No hype.

I'm a Fijian artist, working in Newtown

There's a real difference between an artist who's studied Pacific patterns and an artist who carries them. Both can make beautiful tattoos. But when you sit down with someone whose own family and culture are wrapped up in the marks, the conversation goes deeper. You're not just choosing a design that looks good — you're being guided through what fits you.

Sydney has a strong Pacific community, and not a lot of artists who can speak to it from the inside. That's why people travel across the city to sit in my chair. I take that seriously.

For me, Pacific work isn't a style I picked up. It's where I'm from — and that changes the whole conversation.

I also tattoo well beyond Fijian and Polynesian work — blackwork, fine-line, black and grey. But the Pacific pieces are the ones I'm known for, and the ones I care about most.

My Pacific and Fijian portfolio

The work that matters is healed work. Fresh photos look sharp on everyone — the real test is how a piece sits on the skin three months later, once the lines have settled and the black has dropped in. That's what I want you judging me on.

What I do a lot of:

• Fijian and Pacific-influenced sleeves and half-sleeves — flowing pattern work that follows the muscle and the limb, not stamped on flat.
• Forearm and upper-arm bands — a great first Pacific piece, strong but contained.
• Shoulder-to-chest and back panels — bigger statement work where the pattern can really breathe.
• Blackwork and geometric — for clients who want the bold Pacific energy without specific cultural motifs.

Every one of these is drawn for the person wearing it. I don't keep a flash sheet of "Polynesian designs" to pick from. More on why in a second.

How I work: consult first, custom, freehand

I'm consultation-first, always. The first thing we do is talk — and that chat is free, whether it's over the phone, on a video call, or in person at the studio.

Here's the actual process:

1. The consultation

We sit down (or jump on a call) and talk about what you want, where it's going on your body, and what it means to you. If you're Fijian or Pacific and want something that honours that, we get into your background. If you just love the look and want to wear it with respect, that's a conversation too — and an honest one. I'll tell you straight what's open to anyone and what carries deeper cultural weight.

2. Custom design

I design for you. I take your story, your placement, and your reference, and I draw something that exists only on your skin. This is why I don't quote off a photo of someone else's tattoo — a Pacific piece should fit your body and your meaning, not be a copy of a stranger's.

3. Freehand where it counts

A lot of my larger Pacific work is drawn freehand directly onto the skin. Pattern work has to follow your anatomy — the curve of your shoulder, the line of your forearm — and the best way to make it flow is to build it on the actual body, not flatten a stencil onto a 3D shape. You'll see me marking up before any needle touches you.

Where to find me — and who travels in

You'll find me at Memento Tattoo, Level 5, 292 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042 — right in the heart of the Inner West, a few minutes' walk from Newtown Station.

It's an easy trip from across the Inner West — Marrickville, Enmore, Erskineville, Stanmore, St Peters, Camperdown. And because Pacific-specific work is genuinely hard to find done by a Pacific artist, I regularly see people travelling in from right across Greater Sydney — the Eastern Suburbs, the Inner West, the North Shore, out west. If you're willing to make the trip for the right artist, Newtown's a good place to land — plenty of coffee and a feed nearby for after your session.

What it costs (honestly)

I'll always give you a real number at the consult, but here's the lay of the land so you can budget.

• Experienced Sydney artists generally run around $200–$250 an hour.
• Most studios have a minimum charge (roughly $150–$180) that covers setup and hygiene, even for something small.
• A larger custom Pacific piece like a half-sleeve commonly sits somewhere from roughly $1,200 to $2,000+ in the Sydney market, depending on size and detail.

Because my work is custom, I quote per piece once I've seen the placement and the design — not off a price list. And I'd rather you didn't chase the cheapest rate in town. With Pacific work especially, you're wearing it for life and you want it done by someone who understands what they're putting on you. (If you want to go deeper on numbers, I've written a fuller breakdown of Polynesian tattoo cost in Sydney.)

If you want to understand the meanings behind the patterns before you book, have a read of my pages on Fijian tattoos and Polynesian tattooing in Sydney — that's where the cultural depth lives.

Let's have a chat

If any of this resonates, the next step is simple: book a free consultation. No pressure, no deposit to talk — just a conversation about what you're after and whether I'm the right artist for it. Phone, video, or in person at Memento, whatever suits you.

You can book a free consult here. Come with a rough idea, your background if it matters to you, and any reference you've saved. We'll figure out the rest together.

— Amz, Memento Tattoo, Newtown