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Bradford welcomes its first tattoo studio (6 photos)

Bradford Art Studio Tattoos opens for business on the main street; 'We know we've arrived when we have a great tattoo studio,' says Board of Trade official

The first sign that something different was happening at 27 Holland St. E. in Bradford was the repainting of the exterior – from pink to a modern charcoal grey, with the street number in contrasting red.

The new Art Studio Tattoos Bradford repainted, remodelled, and on Saturday, officially opened its doors for business.

The studio is modern, up-to-date and spotless, with comfortable leather chairs for clients. There is a widescreen TV and, on the walls, the artwork and airbrush paintings by owner Guy Abergel.

“He is an artist, first and foremost, since the age of three,” said wife Ana.

“I’ve been drawing my whole life,” said Guy.

He started his career airbrushing T-shirts and has been a tattoo artist for the past 14 years.

Until deciding to go out on his own and open the Bradford studio, Abergel worked with a partner at Art Studio Tattoos in Aurora.

“We’re sharing the business name because we built it together,” Abergel explained. “It’s an established business” with a solid reputation.

Congratulating the Abergels at the grand opening were Mayor Rob Keffer and members of council and representatives of the Bradford Board of Trade, and Successful Women Always Networking.

“They say a town arrives when you have a Wal-mart, a Canadian Tire, a Home Depot,” said Ryan Charron, Bradford Board of Trade director. “We know we’ve arrived when we have a great tattoo studio.”

“It looks great,” said Ward 2 Coun. Gary Baynes. “It shines up the outside, and I see you’re ready to go on the inside.”

Coun. Mark Contois noted that “there was a stigma, a long time ago, that tattoos were only for people in jail, sailors… The stigma is now gone.”

Now, people of all ages and all walks of life have tattoos to celebrate special occasions, to express their beliefs, to create a bond between parent and child, he said.

“It’s body art,” said Contois. “It is art.”

Abergel, accompanied by Ana and their two children, Aaron, 4 and Miguel, 3, thanked the town for its support.

“We really feel welcomed,” he said at the ribbon cutting. “Everybody’s been great.”

For more information, see www.artstudiotattoos.ca or check out @wiseguytattoo in Instagram.

“Everything I have is on Instagram,” Abergel said.


Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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