Artist of the Month - @bambi_bakbi

"Knowing people carry a little piece of my work with them or in their space is really fulfilling."

Illustrator and tattoo artist Bambi Bakbi's art style and visuals reflect the culture of a "90s kid raised on manga and video games." IRL, this takes the form of colorful and vibrant depictions of, in particular, Asian gastronomy.

28 apr 2025

Artist Bambi Bakbi hand painting a crocodile on canvas
Artist of the Month: @bambi_bakbi
Pink Thank You cards sticker sheets with cartoon characters and text.
A May Thank You card on glossy holo, but make it extra umami.

Graffiti, painting, and tattooing, with @bambi_bakbi

Bambi's career and love for creating took off in 2009 through graffiti and late-night painting sessions, doing lettering and small characters. He started creating at home, making compositions just for himself, and eventually made a habit of drawing and creating regularly.

Slow and steady wins the race, and Bambi quickly understood the value of creating art for himself, and not for others; a piece of advice that he considers to be his most important:

"I’d say the most important thing is to stay connected and create for yourself. The goal is to enjoy it. I also want to add to the list: listen to yourself. Accept that some times are just not the right times. My motto: keep it light."

Graffiti and spray painting later turned into another form of art: tattooing. Today, Bambi spends most of his time as a resident tattooer and illustrator at Les Mains Libres - a tattoo studio in Lyon, France.

Cartoon-style food characters resembling dango and sushi, in vibrant colors.
Cartoon holographic die cut sticker of a cake, big eyes, gloves, and sneakers.
Cartoon holographic die cut sticker of a yellow character on an airplane, holding a coffee and smiling.

May Artist of the Month

StickerApp: Hi Bambi, our Artist of the Month for May! It's great to have you with us. First off, tell us a little about yourself!

Bambi: Thank you, StickerApp, for this opportunity! I'm Bambi Bakbi, an illustrator, painter, and tattoo artist based in Lyon. I'm a lover of many things: being creative, creating, painting, graffiti, illustrating, and tattooing.

StickerApp: Amazing! Who or what are your biggest inspirations, and how would you define your art style?

Bambi: Biggest inspiration? Easy! Street food, especially Japanese street food. As far as art style goes, I’d say my universe blends "pop", "cute", and “badass” visual cultures. I like to add some edge to the sweetness, mixing bold forms and visuals with street elements into imagery that, at first glance, comes across as playful or cute.

StickerApp: What's your favorite technique?

Bambi: I particularly love spray painting for its ability to quickly cover large areas, its strong opacity, and the raw feeling it gives. When I paint with spray cans, it brings me real joy. The colors and visual impact instantly connect me to my art.

Bambi Bakbi in a white shirt and black shorts spray painting graffiti for a mural painting.
Bambi Bakbi spray painting colorful street art featuring a cartoon character with a mask, a pink cat, and vibrant flowers.

StickerApp: Why StickerApp?

Bambi: The wide range of material and finishes is excellent, and the quality of your products is outstanding. Sticking them everywhere, on everything, or handing them out is equally satisfying. My friends love sticking them on their clear phone cases, and, for me, knowing people carry a little piece of my work with them or in their space, it's really fulfilling.

StickerApp: How do you use stickers for your business and personal brand?

Bambi:  I use them to promote my work and increase visibility. I used to paint my name illegally on walls... Now, stickers give me a legal and equally creative way to do that. I leave them in places I like, give them away, and even organize sticker treasure hunts on Instagram. Stickers provide an instant showcase of my work, they are really great at that!

Colorful holographic sticker sheets on a pink background featuring cartoon characters.
Tattoo artist and illustrator Bambi Bakbi sitting casually in a chair, with visible tattoos and drinks on a table beside him.

StickerApp: Tell us about a project you enjoyed and are proud of?

Bambi: I recently worked with the Lyon Street Food Festival, designing t-shirts for their staff! It’s a major event for food culture lovers, and it was amazing to work with them. I created a festival visual in my own style, fully true to me. It was such a pleasure!

Thank you so much, Bambi, for the chat! To keep up with Bambi, head over to his Instagram, @bambi_bakbi.


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