{{short description|Indian tattoo artist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Lokesh Verma | image = Lokesh-Verma.jpg | birth_place = Delhi, India | education = {{ubl |Master of Business Administration |Bachelor of Commerce }} | alma_mater = {{ubl |Delhi University |Sri Aurobindo College }} | occupation = Tattoo artist | known_for = Co-founder of Heartwork Tattoo Festival | awards = | website = {{URL|www.tattoosnewdelhi.com}}<br>{{URL|https://devilztattoozluxembourg.com/}} }} '''Lokesh Verma''' is an Indian tattoo artist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/the-human-body-is-my-canvas-lokesh-verma-tattoo-practitioner/articleshow/10369492.cms|title=The human body is my canvas: Lokesh Verma, Tattoo practitioner|date=2011-10-16|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> He is best known for pioneering soundwave tattoos in India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/feb/05/soundwave-tattoos-scan-it-hear-it-2099064.html|title=Soundwave tattoos: Scan it, hear it|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/sunday-edition/new-wave-of-tattoos.html|title=New wave of tattoos|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/life-style/2020/feb/14/this-valentines-day-try-and-express-your-love-with-a-permanent-tattoo-22301.html|title=This Valentine's Day, try and express your love with a permanent tattoo|website=www.indulgexpress.com|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> He is one of the founders of Heartwork Tattoo Festival, India’s only international tattoo festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/life/art/011218/festival-of-ink.html|title=Festival of ink|last=Bhandari|first=Kavi|date=2018-12-01|website=The Asian Age|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/tats-cool-say-these-youngsters/articleshow/66901887.cms|title=Tattoo's cool, say these youngsters|date=2 December 2018|first=Debdeep|last=Mukherjee|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/dec/09/of-tattoos-music-and-major-hip-hop-vibes-2073350.html|title=Of tattoos, music and major hip-hop vibes|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> Verma also established a studio in Luxembourg.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-02-04 |title=Indian Devil’z Tattooz Expands Footprint to Europe with Luxembourg Studio |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/indian-devilz-tattooz-expands-footprint-to-europe-with-luxembourg-studio--1934878 |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
== Background and career == Lokesh was born and raised in Delhi, India. His father worked in a security department, while mother was a teacher. He completed his school education in Delhi and took admission to Delhi University in 2000. He has held several odd jobs.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Karelia|first=Gopi|date=2021-03-18|title=Delhi Man Once Flipped Burgers To Support Family; Now An International Tattoo Artist|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/251219/lokesh-verma-delhi-tattoo-artist-devilz-tattooz-rags-to-riches-success-story-guinness-book-of-world-records-gop94/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Better India|language=en-US}}</ref>
He started practicing tattooing in 2003 as a hobby<ref name=":1" /> while pursuing his MBA during which he also worked at the local McDonalds by day and as a disc jockey by night in order to save money to purchase his first equipment.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/in-other-news/130819/tattoo-artist-lokesh-vermas-success-story-will-leave-you-inspired.html|title=Tattoo artist Lokesh Verma's success story will leave you inspired|date=2019-08-13|website=The Asian Age|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.style.yahoo.com/delhi-tattoo-artist-lokesh-verma-052417403.html|title=Delhi's Tattoo Artist Lokesh Verma Becomes The First Asian To Teach In An Italian Tattoo University|website=in.style.yahoo.com|language=en-IN|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>
He opened a studio first in South Delhi’s Greater Kailash area in 2008 and then in Gurugram in 2013.<ref name=":2" /> In 2011, he tattooed world record attempt recognized by Guinness World Records for the most number of flags to be tattooed on human body held by Guinness Rishi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/70-year-old-man-has-305-country-flag-tattoos-367139.html|title=70-year-old man has 305 country flag tattoos|website=News18|date=25 April 2011 |access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/198195/this-man-walking-atlas.html|title=This man is a walking atlas|date=2011-10-15|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> He is one of the founders of the annual Heartwork Tattoo Festival, India’s only international tattoo festival.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Swain|first=Kasturi|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/shedding-its-image-of-a-passing-fad-tattoo-art-emerges-as-symbol-of-syncretism/article25650489.ece|title=Shedding its image of a passing fad, tattoo art emerges as symbol of syncretism|date=2018-12-03|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-04-07|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/vivacity/tattoos-aren-t-about-cults-anymore.html|title=Tattoos aren't about cults anymore|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> He is the owner of Devilz Tattooz, India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/tapsee-pannu-and-swara-bhaskers-tattoo-artist-explains-how-musical-barcodes-are-the-next-inking-trend/articleshow/73656398.cms|title=Tapsee Pannu and Swara Bhaskar's tattoo artist explains how musical barcodes are the next inking trend|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/fuchcha-s-get-inked-making-a-statement-with-tattoo-and-piercing-in-the-new-session/story-F5pm3qffhMS6Tq5PrGRfLL.html|title=Fuchcha's get inked: Making a statement with tattoo and piercing in the new session|date=2019-07-11|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Tatoo-Flaunt-it-but-watch-out/articleshow/3254395.cms|title=Tatoo: Flaunt it but watch out - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=20 July 2008 |access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-25|title=Lokesh Verma (Devil'z Tattooz) on Life as a Tattoo Artist in India|url=https://www.careersindia.org/interview-with-lokesh-verma-tattoo-design/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=CareersIndia|language=en-US}}</ref>
Lokesh has traveled to 15 countries and tutored many artists. Some of celebrities and cricketers he has inked include Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Swara Bhaskar, Remo D'Souza, and Tapsee Pannu.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Celebrity tattoo artist Lokesh Verma wants to focus on quality work|url=https://m.indulgexpress.com/fashion/2021/jan/20/celebrity-tattoo-artiste-lokesh-verma-wants-to-focus-on-quality-work-31043.amp|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Indulge Express}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Verma, Lokesh}} Category:Male tattoo artists Category:21st-century Indian male artists Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Artists from Delhi Category:Delhi University alumni Category:Tattoo artists