Meet Bern Bredell: Tattoo Apprentice

Born and bred in the Western Cape of South Africa, Bernhard has been engrossed in visual art from an early age. Through any medium he could get his hands on, he has spent his life developing an understanding of visual expression, but always held the highest respect for the power of tattoos.

His initial exposure as a child to tattooing was via Japanese body suits, showing him what a high level of expression and deepness of tradition that tattooing has achieved; he was mesmerized. Fast forward to his early twenties, Bernhard was exposed to the rich, international culture of traditional electric tattooing while connecting with the artists at the world famous Tomb Tattoo and knew it will inevitably be his future.

Starting in his early 30s, he committed himself to tattooing, mentored at Seven Swords in Asheville by an array of strong tattooers. Prioritizing the traditional approach to create impactful, lasting images, he draws from countless generations of experience and history to inform every line and shape.