Chicano Tattoos are maybe one of the most iconic tattoo styles in the world, and, because of this, we have to set up this guide for you.
On this guide, I want to introduce you on Chicano art, so that’s what are you going to read about:
- First, what are Chicano tattoos and some historical roots, of course.
- Then, about their characteristics.
- I want to show you a little bit about Chicano tattoo meanings.
- Lastly, a lot of tattoo designs so you can get inspired.
Sounds good?
What Is Chicano Tattoo?
Well, Chicano tattoos are an art expression from, of course, Chicano’s community and culture.
And Chicano’s culture is an important part of Mexican-American history, because it started just on the border between Mexico and the US, with a lot of influence, particularly in the Southwestern of the country.
Here you can see the perfect example of Chicano tattoo, in fact, there are 3 examples in one, a Jesus Christ, and a couple of payasas (clown women, in Spanish).
As you can see, the shadowing, the fineline work, and the very strong symbolism is key for Chicano style.
This tattoo is done by Yuri Petrucci, founder of Self Made Tattoo Shop. Yuri is very focused on Chicano tattoo and you can find a lot of different examples on his Instagram account (you need to follow him, you know).
Some About Chicano Cultural Origins
Talking about Chicano culture is talking about the 1960s, just because the Mexican-Americans started to demand some cultural recognition, political representation and, of course, some equity, especially in the Southwestern cities of the US, like Los Angeles or El Paso, just to show you some examples.
As you can imagine, these demands ended with a lot of people in prison and some riots, so yes, prison was an important thing for Chicano tattoos.
But there was another beginning, let me show you about Pachucos and Pachucas.
Pachucos, The Beginning Of Chicano
Let me give you some context for the Pachuco movement.
There was the 1930s and 1940s, yes, just before (and during) WWII and there was a lot of racial tension, especially in the Southwest of the US.
Mexican-American want some more respect, and you know, the US society just does not want to give it to them.
So these Mexican-American men and women started to wear some distinct clothes just as a way to show a public resistance to that system.
And, in 1943, there was the Zoot Suit Riots, because Pachuco dressing was easily identified, and they became targets of racial attacks. Moreover, the media was saying they were criminals, so this culture was very stigmatized.
Pachuco’s Key Points
Just if you want to know more about Pachucos, just a few highlights.
Pachuco’s fashion was about the zoot suit, with baggy coats with broad shoulders, high-waisted (and wide-legged) pants tapered at the ankles, a lot of accessories and bright colors.
Pachuca’s fashion was about dark lipstick, draped jackets and slim skirts.
They have a special slang, called “caló”, a mix between Spanish and English.
And they loved swing and jazz, so they had a nice musical style.
20 Years Later, Chicano Arrives
This was back in the 1930s and 1940s, and later, back in 1960s and 1970s, the evolution of Pachuco’s culture became the Chicano one.
Some Chicano Meanings For You
There are some meanings for Chicano tattoo and I want to introduce you to them:
Street And Lowrider Culture
The Chicano movement was very related to street culture in the Southwest of the US and in the North of Mexico, so there is a lot of context in the tattoo designs about it.
And, of course, a lot of Pachuco culture and images.
One perfect example here about this lowrider culture, plus a “Day of the Dead” one is this one, with a lowrider car and, moreover, like a dead Mariachi in the city, with a lettering.
This tattoo has every Chicano key point!
This fantastic tattoo is done by Nuel Ramos, a fantastic tattoo artist very focused in Chicano tattoo, working at Guadalajara, in Mexico.
Chicano Is About Struggle
Chicano is about struggle because inside Chicano culture there is a lot of oppression, but a lot of survival and a lot of resistance.
So, Chicano tattoos are usually very, very emotional and bold, mixing strength and power with vulnerability, and I think it’s beautiful.
Chicano Is About Religion
There are a lot of Catholic Imagery in Chicano Tattoos, especially virgins, like La Virgen de Guadalupe, from the Mexican culture, or the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) with skulls and catrinas everywhere.
Of course, in Chicano tattoos there are a lot of crosses, Jesus Christ and angels too because of this deep Catholic background.
Just an example here, a Virgin Mary with the Sacred Heart, inked in the neck (yes, that is painful and very difficult), in a perfect Chicano tattoo style.
This tattoo is done by Diego Vargas, a very bold tattoo artist focused on Chicano lettering, working in Los Angeles, California.
Chicano Is About Lettering
Yes, in Chicano tattoo there is a lot of lettering, especially with very ornamented letters, like in the medieval books that wrote the monks back in the abbeys.
And I do like kind of lettering a lot, to be honest.
When I told you Chicano is about very bold lettering with something like medieval calligraphy, this is the way it sounds.
And it sounds good, isn’t it?
This spectacular tattoo is done by Dope Letters Tattoo, based in three different (and very far one from another) sites: Perth, in Australia, Los Angeles, in the US, and Tokyo, in Japan.
Chicano Is About Clowns
There are a lot of Chicano tattoos about clowns, and usually it represents the balance between joy and sorrows, but, other times, it is about deception.
Yes, there is something about sadness in some Chicano tattoos.
This could be a nice example of a beautiful payasa tattoo in Chicano style.
As you can see, there is a realistic tattoo, fineline with a lot of shadowing, and with some “street culture” concept, because of this cassette, isn’t it?
The tattoo is done by Francesco Frigenti, a very talented tattoo artist focused on Chicano tattoos, working at The Gallery Studios, in Pozzuoli, near Napoles, in Italy.
Chicano Is About Portraits
Back in prison, getting inked with the loved one was a usual thing, and in Chicano culture too.
And this trend is in Chicano Tattoos nowadays too, so you are going to see a lot of portraits in Chicano style, usually about the loved one, but they can be about some famous people too.
This tattoo is a portrait, about an angel, but a portrait, you know.
And, one more time, this tattoo is about a realistic style, with a perfect shadowing and a bold and very emotional design, and yes, the angel has the clown-like eyes, too.
The tattoo is done by Thore Sharpz, another very talented tattoo artist from Napoles, in Italy.
Chicano Tattoos Technical Features
One more time, Chicano tattoos began in prison, so they had to make tattoo machines by themselves and with the ink they had there.
Because of this, there are maybe three key technical features for Chicano Tattoos:
- Black and Gray colors in most of the cases, sometimes in prison they had some blue ink, but like something extraordinary.
- Fine Linework, because in prison the tattoo machines were very precarious. Now, Chicano tattoos are intricate.
- Shadowing is key, so Chicano tattoos now are a kind of realism style.
Some More Chicano Tattoo Designs For You
And now, here you can see some more Chicano tattoo designs for you:
Chicano Eye Hand Tattoo
A nice example for a Chicano hand tattoo could be this one, because it has a lot of Chicano elements just in one hand piece.
It is a realistic tattoo with a perfect shadowing, the eye has clown-like marks, intricate design and a lettering in the fingers.
The complete pack!
The tattoo is done by Robo, a wonderful tattoo artist working at Youngsterz Tattoo Shops.
Chicano Complete Arm Sleeve Tattoo
And here you can see a complete arm tattoo, all in Chicano style, with a lot of elements, for example:
You can see a couple of lettering, just in the upper and lower part of the arm, in two different ways, a couple of portraits, ending in the hand, all with the Chicano style concepts.
The tattoo is done by Cassius, a very talented tattoo artist from Sao Paulo, in Brazil, in Pura Ink Studio.
Angel Portrait in Chicano Style
Here is another angel portrait tattoo, in a very well finished Chicano tattoo style.
I do love the emotional part of the design and, to get this expression, you have to be very, very good doing the shadowing work.
The tattoo is done by Valerio RM, working at Big Art Gallery Studio, in Rome, Italy, and you need to follow him!
Very Large Front Side Chicano Tattoo:
Spectacular, isn’t it?
This tattoo has another very nice example for a Chicano tattoo, with a lot of elements about the style.
For example, you can bet this is a tattoo about street life, because, you know, there are two small kids with guns.
Moreover, they have the clown marked eyes, and they are playing with cars.
This tattoo is done by Federico Grossi, working at Ambition Ink Milano, of course, in Italy, one more time.
Chicano Chest Tattoo
This tattoo is just a masterpiece about Chicano tattoo art, from one of the most prominent tattoo artists in the Chicano world.
As you can see, there is a clown smoking directly a bill, and a woman portrait, with some lettering and a lot of details.
The tattoo artist is Junior Banda, working at his own tattoo studio in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Junior has more than 15 years working in the tattoo industry.
Chicano Jesus Christ Large Tattoo
Wonderful, isn’t it?
This very large Jesus Christ tattoo, with the angels and all the Catholic symbolism is a very nice example of a Chicano masterpiece in the chest.
The tattoo is done by Herchell L Carrasco, a very prominent tattoo artist from Chicano, and from Pachuco tattoo style, and I do think you should follow him.
Chicano Tattoo Is Much More Than Only Tattoo
As you may notice on this guide, Chicano Tattoo is much more than a tattoo.
It is about an entire culture demanding for equity and receiving racial attacks, so it’s about the path of the warrior all of us have inside.
We hope you have enjoyed this guide and learn a lot about all the possibilities of Chicano tattoo!
