Ami James

Ami James was born on April 8, 1972, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, during an Israeli occupation. His American father converted to Judaism before moving to Israel, where he met James’ Romanian-born mother while serving in the Israeli army. James spent his early childhood living in both Israel and Egypt. At the age of four, his father left the family. James later moved to the United States around age 11, living with his paternal grandparents before settling in Miami at 12. He received his first tattoo at 15, which inspired him to pursue a career as a tattoo artist. In his adolescence, James returned to Israel and served as an Infantry sniper in the Israel Defense Forces.

James formally began his tattoo career in 1992, undertaking an apprenticeship with Lou at Tattoos By Lou. His professional trajectory gained wider public attention in 2005 when he co-opened Love Hate Tattoos in Miami Beach, Florida, with Chris Núñez. This shop became the central focus of the TLC reality television series “Miami Ink,” which debuted in 2005 and significantly elevated his profile in the tattoo world. Following the success of “Miami Ink,” James expanded his television presence by starring in “NY Ink,” which premiered in June 2011, documenting his new tattoo studio in New York. He also opened Love Hate Social Club in London, UK, in November 2012, further extending his international reach.

Throughout his career, James has engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures beyond tattoo parlors. He co-founded the DeVille clothing company and the Miami nightclub Love Hate Lounge. James also developed designs for Motorola’s RAZR V3 mobile phones and invested in a jewelry line, Love Hate Choppers Jewelry. A notable contribution to the tattoo industry is his co-founding of Tattoodo, an online platform launched in May 2013 for custom tattoo designs. In 2022, James became a judge on the fourteenth season of “Ink Master,” continuing his influence in the tattoo community and television.