Upon initially discovering Brogan and his work it seemed to raise more questions than it did answers. Is he a tattooist, photographer or painter? How did these artworks come to be and why are they so sad and tragic? What exactly is going on in the mind of this strange artist?

Born in the city of Phoenix, Brogans youth within the scorching city was spent around the burgeoning tattoo scene of the early 2010’s. To some people this might seem as a stroke of luck and a life of thrills, but he could not disagree more, this had been what initially turned him away from being a tattooist, or even being in the scene, as a whole. Seeing the darkest parts of the tattoo underworld at a young age, he would do what he could to stray away.

Joining the work force at fourteen, he struggled to find passion within what he was doing. There was one thing, though, that he felt fulfilled him. One thing that was an escape. The all consuming world that is fine art. He would start with simple pencil sketches and charcoal drawings, while impressive for a young teen, it was directionless, barely making ends meet and not quite being the metaphorical puzzle piece he felt he was missing. While drawing one afternoon a tattooist had taken notice of his work and, with a short yet meaningful discussion of his background and thoughts on art, had decided to invite Brogan to apprentice at a tattoo studio.

While extremely apprehensive and approaching his mentoring at an arms length, he couldn’t hold out against what he had come from, it had turned into an otherworldly obsession of his. Quickly finishing his tattoo apprenticeship in 2020 he rose to be a figure within the industry at an astonishingly young age.

Although at the time renowned for his technical execution, he had found himself at his lowest and felt he wanted something else, something that filled him with identity and purpose. What he chose to do, reject everything he had known and put himself completely into his artwork. He aimed to create something that was just for him, something that couldn’t be replicated because it was himself entirely. He wanted to bring a fine art to an industry that was unfamiliar to the idea.

In 2021 he would enroll in art academy, which he would attend for four years, and by 2022 he had committed to strictly practicing his own trademark style while hand drawing all his designs from memory. What was met with vast misunderstanding and ridicule had turned into some of the most beautiful series of artworks that he had ever created.

He eventually found himself wanting to have greater creative control over the nuanced tattoo processes and how exactly the unconventional artworks were displayed, so with what was left of his savings and the knowledge gained from a ten minute YouTube video, in 2023 he would last minute decide to pick up a camera while on his way to do a show in California. What started with a couple fun selfies and half-hazard pictures of city streets developed into a fundamental and sincere part of his work. His ability to creatively apply himself within each part of every project has allowed him tediously build the captivating sub-genre he has today.

While building upon his tattoo portfolio he had grown to find passion within the freedoms and expression offered by photography that were different to tattooing. He used his busy travel schedule to his advantage and captured unique travel and lifestyle photos that would connect him with a new and larger audience. Today he is equally regarded for his artistic photographs as well as his avant-garde tattoo artworks.

So when you gaze into Brogan Frahm’s various mediums of artwork whether it be online, at an exhibition or at a gallery, the best way to appreciate the work is to embrace its mystique. To step back and try to see the story that’s being illustrated for you, only then can you get its passionate answers. Not quite just a tattooist, photographer or painter, he’s a creative. Today he still resides in Arizona and dedicates almost all his time to his lovely creation, Kamisitra.