Incredible Gang Tattoos and their Meanings

What do gangs and tattoos have in common? In short, pain and permanence.

In many countries around the world, tattoos developed as a way to identify prisoners and ostracize them from law-abiding society. Tattoos were imprinted on inmates to not only identify them as felons, but also to identify the crimes they committed. Prisoners capitalized on the fear and stigma associated with body art and used that as a source of pride.

Tattoos came to symbolize both the gory and the glory associated with gang life. Today it is not uncommon for gang members to tattoo their hands and arms, necks and even faces, as a demonstrated refusal to acclimate to social norms. Tattoos in gang culture represent a commitment that stays with the body even after life. Gang members are committed to the gang for life and shared tattoos are a way of unifying members of a gang.

From tear drops to religious and cultural images, check out these incredible gang tattoos.

Tear drops

This is one of the most commonly recognizable gang tattoos. While it can be symbolic of a murder committed, more often than not it is meant to memorialize a loved one lost.

Religious images

Prevalent religious imagery is very common. A cross is often used to represent resurrection. Here is an intricate depiction of the Last Supper. View more religious tattoo photos.

Theatrical masks

This image of the smiling mask paired with the crying mask underline the motto “play now, pay later.”

Weapons

Not surprisingly, weapons are a cornerstone of gang tattoo imagery. This realistic looking tattoo depicts a gun. Check out more gun tattoo photos.

Cultural images - Yakuza

The Yakuza have been around longer than the Sicilian mafia, and are known to be responsible for the largest organized crime phenomena in the world. The modern day Japanese mafia’s anti-social behavior, odd clothing and style, and distinctive Japanese tattoos continue to gain the attention of mainstream society. View more culture tattoo photos.

Clocks

This image of a clock with no hands is an example of a tattoo a gang member would get in prison to represent serving time. Generally, the clock would have no hands to symbolize being locked up until the end of time.

Gates and windows

Another prison tattoo is the image of light coming through the cell window or gate. This means that the time in prison will be over soon. The tattoo across this man’s belly depicts a gate and a gate keeper.

Hometown pride

Because much of gang culture revolves around loyalty to home, area code and city name tattoos are common. Here is one man’s Chicago tribute.

Skulls

A skull tattoo, such as this one, is not uncommon. It is an omnipresent reminder that death is part of gang life.

Spiderwebs

This tattoo is usually found on the hands or elbows. It can represent time in prison, murder, or simply struggle.

While serving to unify members within a gang, tattoos are used as a means of self-imposed segregation: segregation from other gangs and segregation from mass society. They are meant to instigate fear and serve as a “body of truth” documenting gang life. This entails everything from tallying crimes committed to memorializing the loss of a loved one, to representing a hood, to serving as the hallmark of a life-sentence in prison.

While certain designs and symbols are universally recognized as gang tattoos, most tattoos vary drastically from gang to gang. Tattoos amongst members of the same gang will often differ significantly, carrying familiar elements but in a personalized way, thus highlighting both a group mentality and an individual identity. Images of cultural pride and religious devotion appear in striking contrast with the blood, guns, and daggers which are often coupled on the same body canvas.

Gang tattoos are a study in contradictions; they reflect a culture where life is fleeting but tattoos make the record of life, and often life-record, immortal.