Tattoo Street Style

Like fingerprints, no two tattoos are alike, and some see them as the ultimate expression of personal style. Photographer Nicolas Brulez travels the world in search of unique tattoo artists and those who showcase their artistry.

"Tattoo Street Style" ($20, published by Mitchell Beasley, 2015) captures the global phenomenon that once lurked in the shadows. In 1960 the U.S. had only 500 tattoo parlors - today that number exceeds 21,000. Photographer Nicolas Brulez has documented tattoo art for more than three years on his website, The Tattoorialist. Now for the first time, much of his documented work appears in this collection. EDGE offers an exclusive look at some of our favorites.

"Tattoo Street Style" is available on Amazon.

HANNA
Hannah always thought of tattoos as a sign of rebellion. She often admired women covered in tattoos and longed to be one of them. For Hannah, tattooing is a world where you never get bored. Inspired by the people she works with, she gets tattoos which are autobiographical and set her apart.

The tattoo artists:
Philippe Fernandez, Martin Jahn, Brody Polinsky, Barbe Rousse, AKA, Berlin
Kelly Violet, on the road
Brian Kelly, Loxodrom Tattoo, Berlin
Angelique Houtkamp, Salon Serpent, Amsterdam
Michele Servadio, AKA, London

LOUIS
A writer, composer, and performer in various groups - and most importantly, a passionate person in general - Louis always wanted to get a tattoo. This gentle dreamer who would love to buy a zoo was envious of the "highly-decorated animals," so he got his first tattoos at a very early age, as a way of remembering good and bad moments in his life, not forgetting anything, and being able to tell great stories to his grandchildren. Louis loves the indelible nature of tattoos "in this world built-in obsolescence," and has them done out of a purely aesthetic desire not to be monochrome.

His sources of inspiration come from traditional American tattoo art, as well as the European traditions of prison inmates and sailors. He actually did his first tattoos himself at the age of 17, using a sewing needle and Indian ink. Yet now he is conscious of the fat that it is still "quite a brutal art form that should not be entrusted to just anyone." His tattoos include: many animals, like the toucan inspired by the one he saw in Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri; memories of trips and meetings; and pieces dedicated to his parents, brothers, and pals. His dream is to keep on covering himself with other animals, such as a fox, bison, bear, and stag!

The tattoo artists:
Suzann Grimm, Lille
Thomas Hooper, Saved Tattoo, New York
Bailey Hunter Robinson, Brooklyn
Horizakura of The Horitoshi Tattoo Family, Japan
Bruce Bodkin, Bodkin Tattoo, Montreal

LADYCHIPS
A performer in the Black Circus in Paris, Ladychips is a woman of many passions - not just tattoos, but love, friends, and work. From a very early age she dreamed of getting a tattoo, and since turning 21 she has had tattoos done which complete and define her as a person, like keeping a logbook of her life.

Even though Ladychips is fond of minimalist art, her tattoos are often quite the opposite, as we can see from the little ponies on her arm. They remind her of her childhood, when she collected these toys. She gets her tattoos first and foremost for herself: she doesn't care how others see her, as the people around her love her for what she is.

The tattoo artists:
Sacha, Easy Sacha, Paris
Sailor Xa, Steve Art Tattoo, Nancy
Yann, Buzz Tattoo, Vannes
Ludo, Art Corpus, Paris
Nick, Tin-Tin Tatouages, Paris
Phil Van Roy, Versailles
Benji. La Boucherie Moderne, Brussels
Alejo, on the road
Mister P. Brussels
Yom, Mystery Tattoo Club, Paris

LEANDRE
It was great to meet L�andre, an enthusiastic and eccentric guy, in the aisles of the French Tattoo Convention. He sees tattooing as a fascinating art form, from researching the idea and its meaning to the skills of the tattooist.

Since the age of 18, L�andre has been inking on his skin the history of his native country, Senegal, illustrating two of his passions, dance and Star Wars, and talking about his family and their suffering.

The tattoo artists:
Fabrice Tattoo, Cannes
TomTom, Picardy

MARTIN
Martin is a tattooist who is always open to the world around him. Tattoo culture gives him endless opportunities to meet great new people, with new artists starting out all the time. Influenced by the work of Philip Yarnell, his counterpart in the London branch of AKA, Martin bases his work on his own life and everything in the environment around him, whether it is a street, a building, or a place where he feels good. Martin had tattoos done because he was "tired of putting on different jewelery every day."

The tattoo artists:
Bj�rn Liebner, Red Chapel Tattoo Studio, Berlin
Philippe Fernandez, AKA, Berlin
Himself