S4 • E8 Apr 30, 2014
Once a taboo practice largely confined to sailors and prisoners, tattooing has evolved into a highly prized fashion product for millions of consumers. Today, 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. In the 1970s, artists trained in traditional fine art disciplines began to embrace tattooing and technique. Advances in electric needle machines and pigments provided them with new ranges of color, delicacy of detail and aesthetic possibilities. Primarily a male-dominated industry, Kate Hellenbrand pushed the boundaries, making a name for herself throughout the world. One of the last students of Sailor Jerry, Kate worked alongside Jack Rudy at Tattooland in the gang-ridden neighborhood of East Los Angeles. Her 40 years of tattooing and traveling the globe has paved the way for female tattoo artists today.