Assassin Tattoo Houston — Founder & Master Artist
PENG
YANG
Master Tattoo Artist / East-West Fusion / Large-Scale Custom Work
20+ years shaping large-scale custom tattoos in Houston and beyond — where Eastern tradition meets Western contemporary technique. Founder of Assassin Tattoo, Beijing to Montrose.
Two decades of ink.
One unbroken vision.
International Convention Experience
Organizer & Industry Builder
Chinese & English Editions
Legacy
In 2000, I founded Assassin Tattoo in Beijing — with a clear intention: to approach tattooing as work that stays with the body for life. Over two decades, that declaration has grown into a body of work spanning continents, rendered in skin across Eastern iconography and Western contemporary technique.
I specialize in large-scale custom tattoos: back pieces, full sleeves, and bodysuits. Projects that demand architectural thinking — understanding how the body moves, how ink ages, and how a composition must be built to last a lifetime. My styles include Japanese irezumi, Chinese traditional, color realism, and black & grey realism.
Houston's Montrose neighborhood is now home to Assassin's latest chapter. The same standard. A new city.
Publications Archive
Published Books
A growing archive of books and source materials connected to Peng Yang’s tattoo career, publishing history, and East-West tattoo art legacy.
798 Art Zone Archive
International Tattoo Events
Organized by Peng Yang, these events connected tattoo culture with Beijing's 798 Art Zone and international professional education.
Official Poster Archive
Professional Seminar
International Career
Tattooing Since 2000
Peng Yang's tattoo career spans more than two decades, with international convention experience across Asia, Europe, and North America.
From Thailand to London, Rome, Berlin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Albuquerque, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and beyond.
GLOBAL JOURNEY
From Beijing to Houston
Beginning in Beijing in 2000, Assassin Tattoo spent more than two decades building an international reputation through tattooing, publishing, education, and conventions before expanding to Houston.
Today the studio continues the same philosophy—creating museum-quality custom tattoos with artistic integrity, technical precision, and long-term craftsmanship.
Built for Serious Custom Clients
Why Collectors
Choose Peng
Large-scale custom work needs more than a strong image. Peng plans the anatomy, story, session pacing, and long-term readability before the first session begins.
Large-Scale Composition
Sleeves, back pieces, and bodysuit projects are planned as complete visual systems — not isolated images placed on skin.
East-West Visual Language
Peng combines Eastern mythology, Japanese and Chinese composition, and Western realism into work that feels personal, powerful, and timeless.
Body-First Design
Every design is built around anatomy, movement, muscle flow, and placement so the tattoo works with the body instead of fighting it.
Multi-Session Planning
Large projects are mapped across sessions with pacing, healing, expansion, and long-term readability considered before the first appointment.
Tattooing Since 2000
From Beijing to Houston, Peng brings more than two decades of studio-building, publishing, convention, and large-scale tattoo experience.
Designed to Age Well
Strong silhouettes, controlled contrast, and thoughtful detail keep the artwork readable as it heals, settles, and lives with the client over time.
FEATURED
COLLECTOR
PROJECTS
Selected large-scale commissions by Peng Yang — sleeves, back pieces, mythology-driven compositions, realism, and collector-level custom work.
PROJECT
PROCESS
A clear path from first idea to healed, lasting work.
Consultation
We begin with the story, placement, scale, references, and long-term direction of the project.
Concept Planning
Peng defines the composition logic, visual hierarchy, and how the piece should move with the body.
Custom Design
The artwork is built specifically for your anatomy, not copied from a flat image or template.
Session Schedule
Large work is divided into realistic sessions so the tattoo, the skin, and the client can heal properly.
Tattoo Execution
Linework, contrast, color, and texture are developed in stages to preserve clarity and depth.
Healing & Longevity
The final goal is not only a strong fresh tattoo, but a piece that remains readable and balanced over time.
Project Directions
SIGNATURE
CATEGORIES
Black & Grey
Fusion
Beyond realism — integrating samurai, mythology, and symbolic systems into cohesive large-scale black & grey compositions.
Japanese
Irezumi
Classical Japanese compositions — hannya mask, dragon, chrysanthemum, and flowing waves built with structure, balance, and full-body flow.
Chinese
Traditional
Ink wash–inspired compositions — mountains, waterfalls, and solitary fisherman rendered with poetic flow, depth, and traditional Eastern aesthetics.
Custom
Large Scale
Fine art translated to skin — large-scale custom work built from classical references.
Recognition & Publications
RECOGNITION
& PUBLICATIONS
Published Author
Author and contributor to multiple tattoo art publications in Chinese and English, including five published titles connected to tattoo art, technique, and East-West visual culture.
Beijing 798 Art Zone Convention
Founder and organizer of the Beijing 798 Art Zone Tattoo Convention, connecting tattoo culture with the contemporary art scene.
Beijing to Houston Studio Legacy
From founding Assassin Tattoo in Beijing to building its Houston chapter, Peng’s work carries a continuous studio lineage.
Large-Scale Custom Specialist
International Tattoo Background
Houston Montrose Studio
The True Measure of Quality
HEALED WORK
& LONGEVITY
Day of Completion
Hyper-realistic biomechanical detailing, metallic textures, and clean tonal structure captured on the day the piece was completed.
15 Months Later
The healed result retains its metallic contrast, structural clarity, and elegant cyberpunk silhouette — demonstrating long-term tonal stability and design integrity.
Ink Quality
Premium pigments selected for long-term stability and vibrancy across all skin tones.
Placement Awareness
Every placement decision accounts for movement, aging, and how skin changes over decades.
Composition Depth
Strong foundational design reads clearly at any distance — fresh, healed, or aged.
Skin Tone Mastery
20+ years across diverse skin tones informs every tonal and contrast decision.
LATEST
WORK
Fresh work and current projects from @assassincreate.
This isn’t just a tattoo—it’s a cinematic journey unfolding one session at a time.
From iconic movie moments to unforgettable characters, every section adds another chapter to a sleeve built around nostalgia, imagination, and storytelling.
Still a Work in Progress, but every session brings this sleeve one step closer to becoming a complete masterpiece.
Huge thanks to our client for the trust and commitment throughout the journey. We can’t wait to keep building.
Artist: @assassincreate
📍Assassin Tattoo Houston
#WorkInProgress #SleeveTattoo #MovieTattoo #MovieSleeve #Gremlins #CustomTattoo #ColorRealism #TattooArtist #HoustonTattoo #HoustonTattooArtist #AssassinTattoo #TattooReels #InkLife #TattooJourney #WIP
Work in Progress.
The chickadee has found its place, while the blackberry branch is just beginning to come to life. Every great tattoo deserves the time and care it takes to reach its full potential.
A huge thank you to @lakimberlym for trusting us with this nature-inspired piece. We can’t wait to bring the blackberries, autumn leaves, and all the finishing details to life in the next session.
Artist: @assassincreate
Stay tuned for the final reveal. 🖤
📍Assassin Tattoo Houston
#WorkInProgress #TattooInProgress #ChickadeeTattoo #BlackberryTattoo #NatureTattoo #ColorRealism #RealismTattoo #TattooArt #TattooArtist #HoustonTattoo #HoustonTattooArtist #AssassinTattoo #CustomTattoo #WIP #BirdTattoo
Rise from the ashes. Burn brighter than before.
A fiery phoenix spreading its wings in vivid shades of crimson and scarlet — symbolizing rebirth, resilience, and the courage to transform. Every feather flows like living flame, capturing the moment when destruction becomes a new beginning.
Done by @assassincreate
Houston booking open.
#PhoenixTattoo #RedTattoo #ColorTattoo #Phoenix #Rebirth #MythologyTattoo #CustomTattoo #HoustonTattoo #HoustonTattooArtist #AssassinTattoo
🎬🍿 If you know, you know.
A tribute to one of the most iconic cult classics of the 80s:
⚠️ DON’T FEED AFTER MIDNIGHT ⚠️
From the clock striking midnight to the mischievous gremlin with popcorn and 3D glasses, every detail was designed to capture the nostalgia, chaos, and fun that made this movie unforgettable.
Some tattoos aren’t just tattoos.
They’re memories from another era.
Done by @assassincreate
Special thanks to @gremlinsmuseum for keeping the Gremlins legacy alive.
Houston booking open.
#Gremlins
#GremlinsTattoo
#MovieTattoo
#MovieFan
#CultClassic
#80sMovies
#PopCultureTattoo
#NerdTattoo
#GeekTattoo
#ColorTattoo
#TattooReels
#HoustonTattoo
#AssassinTatto
Adventure begins where comfort ends.
A vibrant watercolor hot air balloon drifting above the mountains at sunrise — a reminder to keep exploring, dreaming, and chasing new horizons. Bold color, soft blends, and a sense of freedom captured in every detail.
Done by @assassincreate
Houston booking open.
#WatercolorTattoo #HotAirBalloonTattoo #ColorTattoo #AdventureTattoo #TravelTattoo #HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
A bold Japanese-inspired koi sleeve built with heavy contrast, flowing waves, and vibrant color saturation. Every scale, cloud, and water movement was designed to flow naturally with the body.
Done by @assassincreate
Houston booking open.
#JapaneseTattoo #KoiTattoo #Irezumi #TattooSleeve #ColorTattoo #HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
Phase One of a full backpiece begins.
The pilot stands at the center — calm, focused, and ready for the journey ahead.
Reflections of fire, sky, and flight captured in the visor, setting the tone for the entire composition.
This is only the beginning.
More layers, more detail, more story to come.
A full backpiece is never just one session — it’s a long process built with patience, trust, and vision.
Work in progress by @assassincreate
Assassin Tattoo — Houston, TX
#BackPieceTattoo #WorkingInProgress #PilotTattoo
#ColorRealismTattoo #LargeScaleTattoo #CustomTattoo
#FullBackTattoo #HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
“I feel therefore I am.”
A vivid expression of emotion and existence — blending an anatomical heart with blooming florals in a fluid watercolor style.
Soft transitions, layered colors, and organic flow turn this piece into something both delicate and powerful.
Where feeling becomes identity.
Done by @assassincreate in 3 hours
Assassin Tattoo — Houston, TX
#WatercolorTattoo #AnatomicalHeart #FloralTattoo
#ColorTattoo #MeaningfulTattoo #CustomTattoo
#HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
Work in progress
Inspired by the original Gremlins creature, this piece brings back that classic mischievous energy — now sitting at the bar, ready for trouble.
Bold colors, gritty textures, and a raw attitude — still building layers and pushing the character to its final form.
This is just the beginning.
So… you grabbing a drink this weekend? 🍻
Done by @assassincreate
Assassin Tattoo — Houston, TX
#WorkInProgress #Gremlins #HorrorTattoo
#ColorTattoo #MovieTattoo #TattooInProgress
#HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
Working in progress 🔥
Dark feminine energy in motion.
A demonic muse with burning horns and molten flow — blending color realism with graphic elements and raw texture.
Still building layers, still refining the story.
This piece is all about contrast: beauty vs chaos, control vs release.
Stay tuned for the final.
Done by @assassincreate
Assassin Tattoo — Houston, TX
#WorkInProgress #TattooInProgress #ColorTattoo
#DarkArtTattoo #DemonTattoo #RealismTattoo
#CustomTattoo #HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo #tattoo
A large-scale Japanese body composition — still a work in progress.
Dragon, oni mask, crashing waves, and blooming chrysanthemums woven together across the back and lower body.
Bold colors, strong contrast, and flowing movement create a powerful structure that connects the entire piece from shoulders to thighs.
Projects like this take time.
Layer by layer, session by session.
Work in progress by @assassincreate
Assassin Tattoo — Houston, TX
#JapaneseTattoo #Irezumi #DragonTattoo
#OniMask #ChrysanthemumTattoo #BodySuitTattoo
#WorkInProgress #TattooArt #HoustonTattoo #AssassinTattoo
Japanese traditional style snake sleeve in progress.
This custom tattoo features a powerful snake rendered in classic Japanese composition, with bold linework, layered scales, dynamic waves, and flowing movement across the arm and shoulder.
Color is carefully placed to highlight the snake’s expression while maintaining balance with black and grey elements.
Tattooed by @assassincreate
📍 @assassintattoo
#japanesetattoo
#irezumi
#snaketattoo
#japanesesnaketattoo
#tattoosleeve
#customtattoo
#tattooartist
#houstontattoo
#assassintattoo
#traditionaljapanesetattoo
Client Notes
TESTIMONIALS
“Peng helped me turn a loose idea into a full sleeve that actually fits my arm and my story.”
Custom Sleeve Client
“The consultation made the whole project feel planned, not rushed. Every session had a purpose.”
Large-Scale Project Client
“The healed result is what impressed me most. The structure still reads clearly over time.”
Healed Work Client
Common Questions
FAQ
Ready to Begin
START A
COLLECTOR-LEVEL
PROJECT
with Peng Yang — Founder of Assassin Tattoo, Houston Montrose
Walk-ins welcome at 604 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006 — consultation strongly recommended for custom large-scale projects.
Assassin Tattoo & Piercing · 604 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006 · assassin.ink