Grace Young Paints Jess Yen

Capturing the artistry of Jess Yen on canvas, Grace Young brings the legendary tattoo master to life through her unique painting style.

Artist Grace Young from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California posing in front of her oil painting portrait of Jess Yen (Horiyen), honoring the master tattoo artist in classical fine art style

Artist Grace Young standing beside her 40” x 40” oil painting of Jess Yen (Horiyen) at the ArtCenter gallery exhibition in Pasadena, California.

Oil painting of Jess Yen (Horiyen), renowned Japanese tattoo artist, created by art student Grace Young, showcasing his irezumi tattoos and calm expression.

40” x 40” oil painting of Jess Yen (Horiyen) by artist Grace Young, originally exhibited at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, now proudly displayed at our Alhambra studio for visitors to see.

Grace Young, an exceptionally talented artist from the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, created this striking 40" x 40" oil painting of renowned tattoo artist Jess Yen, also known as Horiyen. Known for her refined technique and ability to capture personality and presence on canvas, Grace chose Jess as her subject during her time at ArtCenter, inspired by his mastery of traditional Japanese tattooing and his strong artistic identity.
The painting portrays Jess seated in a calm, grounded posture, surrounded by elements that subtly reflect his artistic world. With meticulous attention to detail, Grace was able to capture the essence of Jess Yen—not just as a tattoo artist, but as an individual whose life and work are deeply intertwined with Japanese art and culture. The soft interplay of light and shadow, combined with the warm, inviting tones, creates a composition that feels both intimate and powerful, reflecting the quiet strength that Jess embodies.
Upon completion, this 40" x 40" oil painting was proudly displayed in the ArtCenter gallery, where it immediately attracted attention from visitors, students, and faculty alike. Many admired how the portrait successfully bridged the worlds of fine art and tattoo artistry, highlighting Jess Yen’s influence beyond the tattoo community. After its time in the gallery, the painting was graciously gifted to Jess Yen and now resides at his tattoo studio in Alhambra, California.
This piece is not only a testament to Grace Young’s skill and vision as an oil painter, but also a meaningful symbol of recognition and respect toward Jess Yen’s contributions to the art world. We remain deeply grateful to Grace for selecting Jess as her subject, for capturing his likeness and spirit with such depth, and for creating a painting that will be treasured in our studio for years to come.