Today we’d like to introduce you to Burak Noire.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been in the tattoo industry since 2000 but professionally started making money from tattooing in 2008 after years of struggling and deciding between graphic design or tattooing. Once I was fully committed on tattooing, I tried many different styles, but at last I naturally decided to blend contemporary and avant-garde styles in my work.
As far as I know, I was the very first tattoo artist from Turkiye in the US. I moved to NYC in 2013 and stayed there full-time until I moved to another one of the greatest cities in the world, Los Angeles, by the beginning of 2021.
Me and my business partner at the time – Laura Martinez opened Fleur Noire Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2016 as the first fine line / contemporary tattoo studio in Brooklyn, NY. Since then, Fleur Noire has grown to three locations in NYC and two locations in LA.
I was a tattoo artist for a long time with a designer background, but for the last six years, I added the entrepreneur title next to my name.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening a tattoo studio as an immigrant in New York and then Los Angeles, where the competitions are known as the biggest in the world, I guess many people were waiting us to fail since the first day, but I think we did it!
We also went through the Pandemic as a relevantly new studio, at least at that time we weren’t well established yet.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist, tattooer and entrepreneur.
I specialize in abstract and contemporary forms of art and tattooing. I also try to bring many innovations to the industry since Fleur Noire Tattoo was born; including equal rights to every artist and supporting all minorities equally as well.
I’m known as the first Turkish tattoo artist in the US and the sole owner of one of the nation’s widest tattoo companies in the country.
I am proud of my late work in tattooing, which I can easily say it’s as unique as it gets. I think that sets me apart from others as an artist. Not many fans in such a niche category, but I’m not looking for huge popularity.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I was lacking of having a mentor for years until I realized not everyone is lucky enough to have one. So, I’ve been trying to collect information and advice from everyone as much as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.buraknoire.com
- Instagram: buraknoire
Image Credits
All works done by me. Studio Picture by Ozan Sapso
