We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Burak Erdal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Burak, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

We’ve always done things differently. From the start, we built one of the first tattoo studios where everyone feels safe and welcome no matter their gender, identity, or background. It was important for clients and artists to feel this breath of fresh air. While the industry was still heavily male-dominated, we pushed for something more inclusive, and helped shift the culture.

At the same time, we opened the door for underrepresented tattoo styles to thrive like abstract, fine line, and ignorant-style work. We believed in them before the rest of the industry caught on, and gave them space to grow.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began in the tattoo industry in 2000 but didn’t start taking it seriously until 2008. After years of struggling to decide between graphic design and tattooing, I was able to finally find my voice after fully committing myself to the art. I tried many different styles, but found the blend of contemporary and avant-garde styles to be where I could thrive.

As far as I know, I was the first tattoo artist from Turkey to make a name for myself in the U.S.—at a time when that wasn’t really a thing. I moved to New York City in 2013 with nothing but my gear, and my portfolio. NYC became my home and my battlefield. It’s where I earned my stripes, carved out a lane for myself, and helped shape a new wave of tattooing.

Me and my business partner at the time 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 expanded to California.

I spent years as a tattoo artist with a design background, blending the structure of visual design with tattooing. But about six years ago, things shifted I stopped thinking like just an artist and started moving like a builder. I added “entrepreneur” to the mix because I was actually out here launching studios, building teams, and creating spaces where artists could thrive and clients could feel something real. I went from just putting ink on skin to shaping a whole culture around it.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

We built our audience slowly and organically. No fake followers or bots, just real people who connected with what we do. We’ve always prioritized quality over quantity, and that’s worked well for us.

If you’re just starting out, keep it simple: post consistently, don’t copy what everyone else is doing, and don’t worry about blowing up overnight. Focus on making good work, showing the process, and letting people get a sense of who you are. The right people will find you if you’re being real.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for us has always been word of mouth and that only happens when the work speaks for itself. We focus on constantly pushing the quality of our tattoos and backing it up with solid customer service. That combination goes a long way.

At Fleur Noire, we work closely with our artists to grow together. It’s not just about individual success but about building something as a team. That energy shows in the experience clients get when they walk through the door.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://buraknoire.com
• Instagram: buraknoire
• Other: www.fleurnoiretattoo.com
  @fleurnoiretattoo
  @fleurnoiretattoosandiego

Image Credits

All my pictures, so no name needed credit