Picture Perfect

Bernard Lyle Kobel (Dec 19, 1906 - Aug 1, 1985) lived quite a remarkable life which encompassed various artistic passions and pursuits. Kobel was born in 1906 in Hammond, Louisiana, but lived much of his life in Indiana. Kobel was quite the creative jack of all trades and throughout his life he wore the hats of a
photographer, photojournalist, writer, cartoonist, and poet. Kobel was also a WW2 veteran. His entrepreneurial spirit shone through as he took over his parents' mail-order business, and offered an eclectic array of photographs capturing the unusual and the extraordinary. Among his vast collection were images of odd houses, freak animals, and tattooed people, numbering over 1700 photographs in total.

Today, Kobel's legacy lives on through the Lucky Supply Tattoo Museum, which proudly owns and showcases his collection of tattooed people's photographs. These images offer a fascinating glimpse into an era where tattoos were thought to only decorate criminals, sailors and circus performers. They might also look familiar as these very same images are use for Lucky Supply’s Outta the Archives aka “OTA” trading card discount program. His images also capture well known greats such as Charlie Wagner, Owen Johnstone, Bob Wicks and many more. As part of our archives, Kobel's work is freely accessible, inviting audiences to explore the rich tapestry of human experiences captured through his lens. In preserving and sharing Kobel's remarkable body of work, we celebrate his enduring contribution to the worlds of photography and tattoo culture.

for more information check us out on instagram @lstattoomuseum