Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Breshears-Jurkovic.
Hi Erika, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started tattooing at 17 in a busy street shop in Atlanta. Being young and a woman in a male-dominated industry meant I needed thick skin, grit, and had to work twice as hard to prove myself. I always knew I wanted to tattoo—when I was a kid, I’d study the art in heavy metal magazines and draw the tattoos I saw on musicians. That style, that energy, pulled me in early. Over the years, I built a strong clientele and eventually opened my own shop a space that is full of talented women tattoo artists who are respectful, creative and supportive. It’s been a long, wild ride, and I still love it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road. When I started, there weren’t many women tattooing so just being taken seriously was a fight in itself. I had to earn respect in shops where I was often the token girl, and that meant showing up, working hard, and not letting anything shake me. There were also times when I had to push through burnout, self-doubt, and the pressure of working in high volume street shops to produce but also to grow artistically. But every challenge shaped me and taught me how to stand my ground and keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a tattooer and shop owner of Halo Tattoo in Long Beach, CA and over the years I’ve really focused on building a style that blends classic technique with fine detail and bold, timeless imagery. I love pieces with strong lines and flow something that holds up over time but still feels personal and artistic. I’m most proud of the trust my clients put in me, especially when they’re coming to me for meaningful, custom work.
What sets me apart is the experience I bring not just in tattooing, but in creating a space where people feel welcome, respected, and cared for. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I still treat every tattoo like it matters—because it does.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t think of myself as a natural risk taker, but I’ve taken a lot of them because sometimes, you have to. Starting out in tattooing as a young woman was a risk. Opening my shop, Halo Tattoo in 2019 by myself while raising my 5 year old daughter was a huge one. You never really know how things will turn out, but I’ve learned that trusting your gut and betting on yourself is usually worth it.
To me, risk is part of growth. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also where change happens. I try to make smart moves, but I don’t let fear stop me. If something keeps pulling at me, I know I need to lean in and figure out why.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.HaloLongBeach.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/halolongbeach
