Ahmed Eldarrat is an Arab-American artist, printmaker and tattooist living and working in St. Louis, MO. He has spent 21+ years working as a professional Tattoo artist in the St. Louis area, and has dedicated much longer to the practice of drawing, illustration and design. With a trade degree in the craft of Sign Painting and silkscreen, as well as working as a full time professional tattooist, Ahmed is an interdisciplinary artist that works in many different styles and processes. Currently he is working with letterpress printmaking using linoleum, woodblock, photopolymer plates and type. With a busy fully functioning letterpress print shop equipped with several antique Letterpress Presses and 3 table top proofing presses as well as a collection of vintage type, he uses a variety of techniques and materials from woodblock and linocuts mixed with type, watercolor, acrylic, ink and sign paint on canvas, paper, ceramic, digital illustration and printing to create his work. In his recent series he is exploring symbols and patterns and natural forms that combine designs from North African tribal tattooing and textile arts with influences, materials and techniques of Asian craft and painting as well as incorporating American Traditional tattoo imagery. Ahmed seeks to create images and pieces that empower and inspire connections between humans, the natural and spiritual world and ultimately to inspire community with each other.