Alien tattoos have been an increasingly popular theme for body art since the mid 20th century, when science fiction introduced the concept of the extraterrestrial into the popular consciousness. Alien tattoo designs generally...
Ambigrams represent our fascination with wordplay and points of view. They’re often elaborate in style, as the artist needs these embellishments (that may appear superfluous from one angle) to complete another letter when...
Anarchy tattoos tend to focus on the principals of freedom and independence cherished by anarchists of all stripes. Anarchy tattoo design focuses primarily on the circled 'A' which is the symbol of the anarchist movement as a...
Anchor tattoos are one of the oldest tattoos in Western culture, forming part of a long line of nautical tattoos that adorned sailors for hundreds of years before tattoo culture became part of the mainstream. Anchor tattoo...
Angelic tattoos are a common theme for body art due to their complexity and beauty. Angel tattoos can represent many different things for many different people because angels have so many different roles in Christian mythology....
Apple tattoos are common and can represent many different things. Apple tattoo designs are most commonly associated with Christian symbolism surrounding the apple in the Garden of Eden, which represents the knowledge of good and...
Aquarius tattoos are a common way for people to express their astrological sign in a beautiful manner. Aquarius tattoo designs are based on the astrological image of Aquarius, the Water Bearer. Aquarius tattoo ideas can be of...
Aries tattoos are a great inspiration for tattoo symbolism. Like many other Zodiac tattoo ideas, Aries tattoo designs combine a rich history of symbolism with deeply held beliefs about fate and their own personalities. Aries...
Aztec tattoos are an increasingly popular set of motifs based around the Aztec civilization's artistic conventions. Aztec tattoo designs often feature mythological creatures from Aztec traditions or Aztec patterns from...
Some of the best tattoos from the 2011 "Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth", in Las Vegas,...
Biomechanical tattoos, which are often referred to as simply biomech tattoos, are designs and images that mix mechanical or technological designs with the organic. Biomech tattoo designs are mostly the result of work done by HR...
Birds are a common motif for tattoos. Bird tattoos can range from the cute, like Tweety Bird from the Loony Toons, to the powerful, like hawks or eagles. Phoenix tattoos are another common example, drawing on the myth of death...
The Buddha is one of the most influential figures in world history, spawning a religious tradition that has persisted for thousands of years. The principles and ideas associated with the Buddha – such as freedom from...
The bull is one of the most symbolically complex animal images. Bulls can symbolize many things, from strength and power to fertility and impulsiveness. Body art featuring the bull can likewise symbolize a whole wealth of...
The butterfly tattoo is a common design for body art. Butterfly tattoo designs are common for women, as they tend to be associated with feminine traits. Butterfly tattoo ideas can run the gamut from abstract or tribal...
The cat is one of the two most beloved animals in human history, a place it shares with the dog. While dogs were with us from the campfires of the hunter gatherers, cats have been domesticated for a shorter time. Read Cat Tattoo...
The Celts of what is now Ireland had a long history of body art, with a variety of tattoo techniques and motifs. Celtic tattoos, once nearly extinguished by history, have once again become popular, as an alternative to tribal...
Cherry blossoms (also called sakura after the Japanese term) are a beautiful symbol of the delicate fragility of things as well as the bittersweet swiftness of life. Either as a part of a larger design or as a stand-alone image,...
The modern image of the cherub is generally a beautiful child with wings, much like images of Cupid. However, cherubs are actually much older than this image of a bow wielding little boy angel and actually predates the Roman god...
The cross tattoo is an enduring symbol of piety and faith for millions of people. Cross tattoo designs are representations of the faith and strength that believers have in their religion and permanent expressions of their...
Supposedly, a devil is the personification of evil. Although depicted in many different physical forms, the devil is a wholly wicked creature that tempts, lures, and manipulates people into doing sinful or immoral deeds. While...
Dogs were the first domesticated species, descending from wolves who learned to coexist with early human tribes well before the dawn of human civilization. As a result, dogs and humans have been together enough for both species...
Dolphin tattoos represent freedom and independence, along with kindness and loyalty. Dolphin tattoo designs are commonly focused around the images of the sea, with single dolphins or even pods of the marine mammals. Dolphin...
Dove tattoos are the most popular bird tattoos, and this is attributable not only to their flexibility as an image but also their deep, many-layered history of meaning. Doves are symbols of peace, love, and hope, and have been...
Dragons are some of the oldest and most impressive of mythological beasts, so it's no surprise that dragon tattoos are a common source for tattoo designs. Dragons, or large, magical reptilian creatures, featuring in nearly every...
Dragonfly tattoos are tattoos featuring one of the most popular members of the insect family. Dragonflies have long symbolized freedom, beauty and quickness, so it's not uncommon to see dragonfly tattoo designs that...
Dreamcatchers are traditional Native American crafts designed to protect sleepers from nightmares and keep good dreams contained. Apart from their beautiful look, they are representative of protection from negative thoughts and...
A classic symbol of freedom and strength, eagles are an American national symbol. But their relevance and meaning extends beyond this as well, back to medieval Europe and even before, to the Romans, Persians, and Babylonians....
All around the world, the elephant is an important symbol in many religions in cultures. From war machines to religious gods, the elephant has an extensive history with humans. They have always represented power, wisdom,...
Fairy tattoos are colorful and unique body art design, common mostly in women. As fairy's are a common archetype from Celtic mythology, both traditional Celtic designs and tribal fairy tattoos are common. Fairy tattoo...
Flags are designed specifically to be recognized immediately as symbols of a place (especially a country) or an organization, and flag tattoos instantly relate a person with what it represents. It is the ultimate in loyalty and...
Flower tattoos are a uniquely versatile theme for tattoos. Flower tattoo designs can have many different meanings based on the different types of flowers illustrated. A lotus tattoo has a very different meaning than one...
Cultural depictions of foxes are almost always preoccupied with the idea of the animal as cunning and smart, though it may be for friendly or foreboding purposes. A dangerous con-man or a playful prankster, the fox appears time...
Geisha tattoos are extremely feminine and are considered beautiful and erotic, by both women and men. These beautiful and graceful tattoos generally represent a person’s desires and dreams to escape the trappings of...
Good and Evil tattoo designs are often intensely personal images that represent the war between a person's good side and their dark side. Good versus evil tattoos can also be about a more cosmic struggle between what is...
Hawaiian culture has a long tradition of body decoration, so it's no surprise that Hawaiian tattoo designs are a common motif for Americans. Much of Hawaiian body art focuses on the natural beauty of the island, so Hawaiian...
Heart tattoos are a common expression of love and commitment to a partner. The heart has long symbolized love and romance, and heart tattoo designs are usually variations on that idea. Flaming heart tattoos can symbolize burning...
Tattoos can be beautiful, personal or shocking depending on the intention of their bearers. Horror tattoos are the latter, designed to provoke a reaction from viewers. Horror tattoo designs can feature monsters from classical...
From cavemen drawing horses in the Lascaux cave to cowboys of the Wild West, the horse has always been part of human life. They symbolism is often conflicting, ranging from power and strength to beauty, grace and freedom. This...
Just as hummingbirds come in a dizzying variety of species—over 300 in all—so too do hummingbird tattoo designs. Representative of love, fragility, inner strength, and sexuality, hummingbirds carry a lot of meaning...
// // The rich history of American Native tattoos stems primarily from the variety and complexity of American Indian artwork. While it is easy to look at the wide array of pre-Colombian cultures in North America as a single...
Japanese tattoos are common primarily because of the long history of tattooing in Japan, which dates back hundreds of years. The long history of Japanese tattoos has lead to a number of recurring motifs or images in Japanese...
The most sought after and successful tattooists will often have a waiting list of anything from one to three years and occasionally even more. When an artist’s waiting list becomes so great that they are forced to stop...
Despite their humble and docile appearance, in Asia koi are associated with bravery, perseverance, and achieving goals. They are known to face the chef’s cutting knife with the serenity of a samurai facing an...
The alphabet is one of the most common sources for tattoos, especially alphabets different from the conventional Roman alphabet used in most European languages. While Roman alphabets can vary in fonts, styles and scripts from...
Lilies comprise a genus of about 110 species, each of them different, all of them gorgeous. Different species of lilies have different meanings in art and literature, though lilies most often epresent purity, innocence, and...
The lion is an animal that has inspired enormous numbers of people over the centuries. Lions represent many thing because of the long history they've shared with humans while both species were evolving in Africa, so it's...
Aside from being one of the most recognizable and visually striking members of the flower world, lotus flowers carry great symbolic significance in the religious traditions of Asia. The color of the lotus as well as other...
Maori tattoo designs are among the most popular tribal tattoo designs, and traditional Maori patterns are steeped in meaning and history. The Maori people have worn distinctive tattoos – called moko – for thousands...
Mermaids, and their less common siblings mermen (male version of mermaid), have been common symbols for tattoos for a long time and frequently appeared in myths and legends around the world for even longer. Mermaid is a generic...
First things first: Mike Demasi is famous for famous faces. And he does them very well. In his own words, he has “always been easily drawn towards realistic tattoos” and was heavily influenced by artists like Deno...
Octopuses are among the ocean’s most enigmatic creatures: constantly changing their appearance, shape, and color, using intelligent strategy to secure their prey, and surviving at any cost—even at the expense of its...
Peacocks are arguably the flashiest and most distinct birds in the world, and their colorful plumage is unmistakable. Throughout history, they’ve also been associated with renewal, immortality, and all manner of divine...
The phoenix is a mythological firebird present in the folklore of several cultures. When a phoenix’s life ends, it’s said to build a nest and then explode into flame, burning into ash. From that ash, a new phoenix is...
Pin up tattoos are a common theme in classical American tattoo art, dating from a period when both tattoos and pin ups were socially unacceptable. Pin up art generally focuses on beautiful women, painted in provocative poses and...
Portrait tattoos generally come in two forms: those of loved ones and those of celebrities. Many people feel a strong connection with various celebrities or the characters they have played, and a tattoo of the celebrity's face...
Hands clasped in prayer are a perfectly natural idea in modern society but, in fact, artistic depictions of prayer have changed drastically over the centuries. The common source of praying hands tattoo designs can be traced back...
The term 'religious tattoos' usually inspires thoughts of specific Judeo-Christian imagery, but there are many more religious tattoo traditions beyond this one type. Interestingly, Judaism and Islam are...
Roses are arguably the most popular symbol of love and beauty in the history of the world. As such, they make appearances in art again and again. Numerous common variations exist, from tribal roses to blue and black roses, each...
Atlanta-based tattoo artist Russ Abbott has devoted his career to a different purpose than most other award- winning artists. Instead of constantly striving to create the most spectacular or realistic design that has ever been...
Deadly yet honorable and loyal, Japan’s most famous feudal warriors have been immortalized in the arts since their rise as a class. The world of tattoo art offers people the chance to show their love of this history along...
Like most animals, the scorpion's symbolism is only tangentially connected to the biological facts surrounding it. In symbol, a scorpion's sting is invariable lethal and its personality bloodthirsty. The symbolic...
Sharks tattoos are common among those who respect the power and danger of the shark. Shark tattoo designs are often based around the distinct jaws or dorsal fin of the most dangerous fish in the world. Different species of...
The symbolism behind bod art featuring ship or other sea going vessels is particularly rich because of the long association between tattoos and sailors. Sailors were among the first Europeans and Americans to have images...
Skull tattoos are among the oldest and most established tattoos. Skull tattoo designs can run the gamut from small, black and white skulls to ornate, full color tattoos. Skull tattoo ideas can include the skull and crossbones...
Snakes have the unfortunate privilege of being one of the most vilified animals in all of history. Especially in the West, snakes are associated with a whole library of terrible values, from treachery to murder. Thanks to the...
A spider’s web ensnares and entangles, and some see humans as falling into the tangled complications of life in this same way. Spiders are the masters of this dangerous web, clever and dangerous, but within this there is...
Star tattoos are a common motif for body art. Star tattoo designs can be stylized five or six pointed figures from the occult or religion, or star maps of constellations. Stars can be included in nautical tattoos, with Polaris...
For complete information on the meanings and symbolism behind strawberry tattoos, please read our strawberry tattoo meaning...
Sugar skull tattoos usually resemble the sugar or white chocolate skulls used in the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. These skulls are usually very stylized, being decorated with bright colors and vibrant flowers. They have...
The sun is one of the fundamental symbols of humanity so it's no surprise that there's a large number of sun tattoo designs to choose from. Sun tattoos are among the most versatile tattoos around, with a large number of...
Tattoos featuring birds, typically swallows, are an old-school style of tattoo that is coming back into vogue. Swallows have always had great meaning to sailors, because before modern navigation, birds were a sign that land was...
One of the most common animal tattoos is the tiger tattoo. Tiger tattoo designs tend to focus on the power and strength of the tiger, which is the largest land feline in the world. Tigers were a common motif for Asian cultures,...
What is a Tree of Life? The Tree of Life’s symbolism varies from culture to culture, but the idea persists that all life is interconnected. Whether it’s the Celtic Tree of Life, the Wiccan Tree of Life, the Norse...
The tree is a potent symbol in many cultures and one that is rich in different versions for use in body art. Tree tattoos can be inspired from many sources. The tree of life tattoo is one of the most common, drawing on Celtic...
Tribal tattoos have become one of the most common styles of tattooing in recent years. Tribal tattoo designs are more of a tattooing technique than a set of images. This style evolved in the South Pacific and often features...
Turtles, despite their rather humble nature, are a cornerstone in many traditional stories as well as creation myths. Self-contained, slow and steady, but ultimately achieving their goals, they are ranked among the wisest of...
Video games have an array of characters and symbols that are perfect for tattoos. Whether to boast your geek pride or simply show your favorite game, these tattoos are always a good...
Botanical tattoos have gone through something of a Renaissance of late and nowhere is that renewed popularity more apparent than the increasingly common sight of a vine or ivy based tattoo. Vines are popular for a variety of...
The wolf is one of the most archetypal images in the human conscious, being the source of man's best friend as well as one of our species earliest and most successful enemies. Read more about the meaning of Wolf...
