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From Survival to Skill: Up Close With Fort Collins Tattoo Artist Igor Bezpalko
- Aimee Heckel
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
If there’s one thing Igor knows, it’s how to fight for survival. Born in Ukraine during the collapse of the Soviet Union, he grew up in poverty, raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to keep food on the table. At 18, hunger drove him into the army — and it was there, using a handmade machine and ink, that he did his first tattoo on someone else.
What began as a curiosity became his calling. After only a year in the United States, Igor has already established a reputation as one of the most respected tattoo artists in Colorado and beyond, renowned for his breathtaking realism and the fierce loyalty of clients who refuse to let anyone else tattoo them.
At Solana Tattoo Company, Igor has found not only a home but also the freedom to do what he was meant to do: create art that endures, just like his spirit.
The Artist’s Journey
Igor’s early life was marked by hardship. He and his mother lived in a tiny basement utility room before finally finding a humble apartment. School was brutal, filled with bullying, blood, and violence, even in elementary school. Yet amid the chaos, he found refuge in art, etching wood and sketching.
At age 13, tattoos caught his eye. His father had been a computer genius and engineer, and Igor had inherited his ability to build and assemble just about anything intuitively. Igor built a tattoo machine out of spare electronic parts (the motor of a CD player, a button, needles from a guitar string, and homemade ink) and tested it out on his own leg: his first tattoo. Foreshadowing, although he didn’t know it at the time.
At 16, Igor’s artistic expression went in a different direction. He grew his hair long and played electric guitar in a relatively successful death metal band that recorded several albums in the studio. By 17, he threw himself deep into boxing. I wasn’t just a hobby; boxing was survival in the violent streets. Six years later, he went pro. Igor’s muscular frame and tall height made him a formidable opponent for another decade.
Then poverty tightened its grip even more. His mom sold nearly everything they owned to try to afford food. They couldn’t afford clothes, so they had to make their own sweaters out of fabric scraps. Igor was forced to join the army to survive. Food was free there, and without it, his family had nothing.
It was during those years that Igor returned to tattooing, using whatever supplies he could find or build by hand. He burned the heels of an army boot, took the ash, mixed it with alcohol and glycerin, and used that as ink. Anti-communist symbols inked on fellow soldiers marked the beginning of a service that would later shape his life.
Still, tattooing wasn’t seen as a profession by his family. His mother discouraged it, insisting he pursue “real work.” So, Igor studied psychology (earning multiple university degrees in clinical psychology and practical psychology). He joined the highly elite special police forces for four years.
But none of it fulfilled him.
Then he earned yet another degree that led him to work as a deep-sea sailor — a dangerous job that nearly cost him his life twice. The ship they sent his team out on was not built for the treacherous deep seas, and as strong as he was, freshly out of the special forces, the conditions were unfit and life-threatening.
“I don’t know how I didn’t die,” he says. “When I got back, I tore my diploma and said, ‘Never again will I risk my life for $1,000 a month.’”
That’s when he met Helena. Everything changed. She believed in him more than anyone ever had. She saw his sketches, marveled at his natural ability, and encouraged him to return to tattooing. Once he did, there was no turning back.
His early tattoos were immediately flawless, even without formal training. Word spread quickly, and people came to him, paying in food when money was scarce. Helena, now his wife, learned alongside him, starting with permanent makeup and then branching into body art. Together, Igor and Helena built their careers, moving from a meager apartment in Ukraine to shops and guest spots across Europe.
From the chaos of Turkey’s tourist shops to the competitive tattoo scene in Finland and Poland, Igor honed his craft. His realism and technical skill earned him invitations to some of Europe’s top studios.
Yet, despite the opportunities, Europe never felt safe or permanent. With war looming and discrimination on the rise, Igor and Helena set their sights on the U.S. — their lifelong dream.
In 2024, they arrived in Colorado, determined to find a studio that matched their standards. Igor and Helena spoke with dozens of tattoo shops across the state, carefully weighing their options. They kept hearing about Solana, which was said to be the best tattoo studio in Colorado for artists to work at. From the moment they walked in, they saw the difference: private rooms, spotless equipment, and a welcoming team that valued artistry as much as safety.
Solana welcomed them. Here, Igor finally found what he always wanted: stability, respect, artistic support, and the chance to make a difference in people’s lives while supporting his family.
Artistic Style and Specialties
Igor specializes in custom tattoos, black and grey portraits, and realism, creating tattoos that are so lifelike they resemble photographs. But he refuses to limit himself; his mindset is that if something is worth doing, it’s worth mastering. He approaches every tattoo with full commitment, determined to deliver work that will last a lifetime.
For Igor, tattooing isn’t just art; it’s a means of survival and purpose. After years of working in dangerous jobs and facing an uncertain future, tattooing provided him with stability and a way to build something lasting.
That mindset shows in every piece he creates, whether it’s hyper-realism, a portrait, or another style he’s mastering.
What It’s Like to Get Tattooed by Igor
Igor can offer a unique, worldly, professional perspective, and he always executes his work with precision.
The loyalty he inspires is unmatched. Even after moving to another country, clients still message him, waiting for him to visit rather than seeing another artist. That kind of devotion speaks louder than any portfolio. It’s proof of the trust he’s built.
Facts About Fort Collins Tattoo Artist Igor
Earned multiple university degrees, including clinical psychology, practical psychology, and maritime studies.
Clients from multiple countries still contact him, refusing to be tattooed by anyone else.
Igor once saved a client’s life in Turkey, catching him as he collapsed before he could fall down a flight of stairs.
He survived two near-death experiences while working as a deep-sea sailor.
He loves taking apart tattoo machines and rebuilding them for better performance, a reflection of his engineering mindset.
He served four years in Ukraine’s elite special police forces before returning to art.
He played guitar in a death metal band that recorded albums in a studio.
He trained as a boxer for 16 years, including 10 years as a professional fighter.
Igor’s life has been one of survival, discipline, and talent that refused to be silenced. From the handmade tattoos of his army days to the realism that leaves clients speechless, his journey has been long and hard-fought. Today, at Solana Tattoo Company in Fort Collins, Igor is proud to create work that lasts a lifetime.
Book a free consultation with Igor and see why so many call him one of the best tattoo artists in Fort Collins (and beyond) — an artist whose story is as unforgettable as his art.