BJ Betts

BJ Betts

Kennett Square, PA, United States

Biography

For the past twenty plus years, BJ has led a revolution in tattoo lettering and typography. Through both his tattooing and the publication of now 5 industry standard guidebooks, first released in 2004, Betts’ influence is widespread. Lettering, without doubt, has played a role in tattoo design for centuries. Thanks to BJ Betts, what was once a small compositional element has exploded into a full-on niche.

Betts’ approach to lettering hasn’t just spurred change within the tattoo industry; his work transcends his craft, inspiring critical reevaluation of hand-done typography among a new generation of graphic designers. Within consumer goods, Betts has delivered high-profile collaborative projects with Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Puma, Stance, Vans, Sony Music, and many more. He is author of The Graphic Art of Tattoo Lettering (Thames & Hudson, 2019), lectures regularly, and has appeared on numerous television programs on the FX, TLC, and Spike networks.