The studio was founded in 2015 in Salzburg. In a stylish, pleasant setting, the team brings its passion for tattooing to life; the philosophy is imaginative, original, and unique. The studio covers many styles — including Black & Gray, realism, and comic — and takes time for individual consultations, from small to large-scale work.
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Anna Marina Ernst grew up with art and became interested early on in art under the skin. After nearly four years of handpoke experience, she decided to learn tattooing through formal training. Since 2020 she has had the opportunity, alongside her studies at the Mozarteum (Fine Arts and Design), to realize her artistic work under the skin as part of the studio team.
Horst turned his passion for art into a path: after training as a technical draftsman, he worked as a caregiver for people with disabilities and realized creative projects. In 2012 he traveled with his wife, tattoo artist Nikki Vasquez, across Europe and the USA, attended tattoo conventions, and supported studios; in 2018 he began his training at Old Salt Tattoo Studio in Freilassing under Nikki’s guidance. In 2020 he passed the Austrian tattooer qualification exam and started at Lasting Memories Tattoo Studio; in 2025 he joined Balu Custom Tattoo, with a style shaped by traditional American and Japanese tattoos and a special inspiration from Japanese art.
Marco has always been interested in the art of tattooing and decided more than ten years ago to learn the craft. His focus was initially on Asian motifs and their history; he repeatedly traveled to Southeast Asia to expand his knowledge and, in recent years, gained experience in studios and at tattoo conventions. He is now happy to work with Balu in the studio and to bring clients’ ideas to life.
Markus 'Balu' Linher became fascinated by tattoos as a child in the 1980s. In 2006 he began his training with Leo at the renowned Naked Trust tattoo studio in Salzburg, where he honed his skills from 2006 to 2015; since 2015 he has been self-employed and runs his own studio, Balu Salzburg – Custom Tattoos. He has dedicated himself to tattooing for almost 20 years, values personal exchange with his clients, and views each tattoo as a storytelling journey.