From watching her mother get tattooed at just eleven years old to running her own studio in Germany, Michelle Bergen’s journey into tattooing is rooted in curiosity, emotion, and persistence. Trained the traditional way with a coil machine and shaped by years of exploration, she has grown into an artist whose true passion lies in realism, especially faces that tell stories and carry feeling.
Michelle openly about the evolution of the tattoo scene, the challenges of balancing family life, studio ownership, and social media in 2025, and the courage it took to stop tattooing everything in order to fully commit to her artistic voice. She shares her love for color realism, her experience at tattoo conventions, and her belief that growth comes from pushing beyond comfort while staying grounded in empathy and honesty.
This is not just a story about tattooing, it’s about learning to say no, choosing fulfillment over safety, and continuing to move forward with intention, curiosity, and heart.
For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
Hi, I’m Michelle Bergen, and I’m 37 years old.
Where are you based?
I’m from Germany and run my own studio, Color Mi, in Remscheid, which is located betweend Düsseldorf.
Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?
When I was 11 years old, my mother got her first tattoo. I was allowed to watch, and I found it incredibly fascinating to see what the tattoo artist was doing. He told me that if I took one of those old film canisters, made a hole in the bottom, put some coins inside, attached it to my pen, and drew with it, I could learn to handle the weight of a coil machine and become a tattoo artist one day. That really stuck with me.
How and when did you start tattooing?
When I was 15, I was allowed to get my first tattoo, and in my early twenties, my tattoo artist handed me the machine and let me rework a tattoo myself under his supervision. At the time, I was training as a hairdresser and wanted to become a makeup artist, but that experience completely hooked me. After finishing my hairdressing apprenticeship, I went around to different tattoo studios with my portfolio, and one of them took me on as an apprentice. So, I learned tattooing the traditional way, with a coil machine, from a true “old-school rocker” tattoo artist.
How do you see the tattoo scene in your country today, especially compared to how it was when you first started?
Compared to the past, there are now many more young tattoo artists who specialize right from the start. My impression is that the scene used to be shaped by artists who were true all-rounders. It was more about simply being able to tattoo at all. Nowadays, there’s much more focus on artistry and self-expression. It’s become more diverse, and of course, it’s easier for clients to find the right artist for their style.
How would you define your tattoo style?
I’m an all-rounder, but my true passion lies in Realism. I love faces, especially female ones. I enjoy working with small details and creating compositions that tell a story or evoke emotions.
What kind of tattoo projects do you like to do the most?
Not too long ago, I started doing color realism, and I absolutely love it. I really enjoy working with skin tones and transforming anime characters into real people, without losing their anime essence. I also love projects that reflect personal growth, tattoos that serve as reminders of change, healing, or becoming a better person. These pieces are full of emotion, and I love highlighting the positive outcome.
What’s the main source of inspiration for your tattoos?
I’m not sure if I have one main source, inspiration comes from so many places: Emotions, my clients’ stories, my own fears, social issues, experiences, and sometimes simply because something looks beautiful.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2025?
Finding balance. Between family life with kids, running a studio, and keeping up with everything for social media.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a tattoo artist?
The positive feedback from my clients and the close connection I have with them. I truly value that my clients trust me with their most personal thoughts, and that they also lift me up when I’m going through something myself. It’s not a one-way street; it’s a flow on equal ground, and that means a lot to me.
What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I love going to tattoo conventions! I’ve already brought home several awards, including Best of Show, and this year I attended my first convention outside of Germany. I’m planning to take part in more large conventions and to be a bit braver when it comes to traveling further. ?
Do you remember the first tattoo convention you have ever been to?
Oh yes!~ It was in 2019. It was my very first one, and also the organizer’s first event. A lot has changed since then!
What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?
It’s the all-in-one package. Especially for artists who aren’t yet very well known, conventions are a great opportunity to gain visibility, meet other artists, exchange ideas, learn new things, and grow personally. When you’re tattooing for a contest, you have to deal with time pressure and stay focused despite all the hustle and bustle around you. It’s always a process of pushing yourself to your limits and beyond. And that’s how you grow.
What’s your favorite tattoo convention so far? And why?
I really enjoyed the convention in Dortmund this year. Mainly because I had such a great booth neighbor. We were both tattooing for the contest and worked late into the night on Saturday. The atmosphere was fantastic, we pushed and motivated each other, joked around, and it was just an amazing experience. I also really like smaller conventions because they have such a family vibe. I can bring my kids, and they play with the other tattooers’ children, it feels like visiting friends. I’m super excited about two conventions coming up in 2026: The King of Ink, which has a pretty big prize pool (unusual for Germany), and World of Ink in Poland, it’s going to be incredible! World-class artists are attending, and the organizer truly puts his heart into making it better each time. That earns my deepest respect.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
Be aware that tattooing isn’t just about the craft itself, there’s so much more to it. You need to be empathetic because clients often can’t clearly express what they want. Cleaning and hygiene are absolutely essential. Having a passion for cleaning definitely helps! You’ll also need a balance between perfectionism, self-reflection, pushing your limits, and not letting self-doubt drag you down. If you have that passion, go for it! There’s nothing better than turning what you love into your profession.
Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
Oh, the list would be long. There are so many amazing artists! But I’ll narrow it down to three:
At the top is Torsten Malm – not only does he create incredible color realism tattoos, but he also gives genuinely helpful advice and remains such a down-to-earth, kind person despite his success.
Then there’s Thomas Carli Jarlier – his work speaks for itself; it’s simply outstanding.
And Natasha Animal (Animal Tattooer) – she tattooed part of my arm, and besides her artistic talent, she’s just an extraordinary human being.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
Learning to walk my own path and to say no. For a long time, I tattooed everything, mostly fine line designs but over time, it made me unhappy because my true passion has always been realism. It was really hard for me to say no to my loyal clients and stop accepting every style, focusing only on Realism. That was a tough inner process, but I’m so glad I found the courage to take that step. Now I finally feel at home in my style and it makes me truly happy.
Do you do other forms of art besides tattooing?
Yes! I see things like nail art (which I do for myself), sewing, or creating jewelry as forms of art too. As a teenager, I appeared in a few videos and films, and for me, everything about that from video editing to makeup and clothing was a creative expression. With social media, it’s become a bit easier to keep exploring and having fun with that side of creativity.
What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
Hmm, can I be honest without sounding strange? I have a big goal, not necessarily for the near future, but in general: I want to be among the best of the best. When I was in my early thirties, I had achieved everything I’d set out to do. Bought a house, started a family, built a successful studio and then I suddenly thought, “What now? Is this it?”. So, I set myself a new, big goal, and it gave me new energy. I need something to work toward. I guess I have a pretty restless spirit.
Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
It’s always good to focus on the positive. Your energy flows wherever your focus goes.
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