Build the Legend: Iron Legends SA

My name is Jason Julie. I’m 36 years old, born and raised in Johannesburg, and for as long as I can remember, art has been a part of who I am.

As a kid, I was always drawing: on school books, scraps of paper, anything I could get my hands on. It wasn’t something I thought much about back then; it was just something that made me feel calm and connected. When I had the opportunity to attend high school in England for a time, that’s where my passion really started to take shape. I learned more about art, about technique, but most importantly, I learned how powerful it can be to express yourself through it.

At 19, I discovered tattooing, and everything clicked into place. I fell in love with the idea that art didn’t have to live on a page or a wall, it could live with a person. It could become part of their story. That’s what drew me in and what has kept me going all these years. Every tattoo is personal. Every piece carries meaning, whether it’s a memory, a tribute, a turning point, or simply something that brings someone joy. To be trusted with that is something I never...