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Inked Mag Staff

May 5th, 2022

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Celebrate Cinco De Mayo with 10 Legendary Chicano Tattoo Artists

These artists have made a name for themselves through this beautiful style of tattooing

This Cinco De Mayo, we’re celebrating the Inked way and that’s by showcasing 10 of the best Chicano tattooers in the industry. Chicano is a word chosen by Mexican Americans to represent their heritage. Prior to the 1960s and 1970s, Chicano had negative connotations, however, Mexican Americans reclaimed the word during the Chicano Movement. This movement had a broad goal of achieving Mexican American empowerment—whether that be through better education, labor rights or representation in mass media. One of the ways Chicanos helped promote their cause was through creating art, literature and music.

Much of the Chicano art that came out of this movement was community based, with groups of people creating murals that showcased the diverse beauty of the Mexican American experience. This artistic movement, as well as the struggles Mexican Americans faced when immigrating to the United States had a significant impact on tattooing, giving rise to the Chicano tattoo style.

Chicano tattooing is best defined by its style and subject matter. Its style is fine line black-and-grey with smooth shading and subtle pops of white. Its subject matter often includes payasas, Pachuco gangsters, roses, the Virgin Mary, Jesus, sacred hearts and the “Laugh Now, Cry Later” masks. Most of the great Chicano and Chicana tattooers of today still work in California, specifically East Los Angeles, which is the home base for this style. In honor of Cinco De Mayo 2022, we’ve put together tattoos from 10 of our favorite Chicano artists and it’s time you appreciated their unparalleled talents.

Freddy Negrete

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Last piece only fitting #smilenowcrylater on @cj_loco_

A post shared by Freddy Negrete (@freddy_negrete) on Jan 19, 2020 at 3:42pm PST

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Payasa babe on @tim.au_

A post shared by Freddy Negrete (@freddy_negrete) on Dec 7, 2019 at 8:37pm PST

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Sexy Charra on @iggyink

A post shared by Freddy Negrete (@freddy_negrete) on Jan 15, 2019 at 11:22pm PST

Chuey Quintanar

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Best of day Virgin Mary tattoo at @newmexicotattoofiesta !! Single needle action! @escuelavieja #CHUVINCI #ChueyQuintanar @TACsciences @chuvincioficial @DeersEyeStudio #TACsciences #deerseyestudio #tattoos #tattoo

A post shared by “Chuey Quintanar” (@chueyquintanar) on Jul 15, 2019 at 9:56am PDT

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One more session on this virgin of Guadalupe back piece @sinsixty #CHUVINCI #ChueyQuintanar @TACsciences @chuvincioficial @DeersEyeStudio #TACsciences #deerseyestudio #tattoos #tattoo

A post shared by “Chuey Quintanar” (@chueyquintanar) on Jun 10, 2019 at 11:51am PDT

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#TBT Tattoo I did on @comptondavid many years ago! #CHUVINCI #ChueyQuintanar @TACsciences @chuvincioficial @DeersEyeStudio @art_motive #TACsciences #deerseyestudio #artmotive #tattoos #tattoo

A post shared by “Chuey Quintanar” (@chueyquintanar) on Jan 24, 2019 at 10:05am PST

Tamara Santibañez

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for our talented guest artist @jay_tatts

A post shared by Tamara Santibañez (@tamarasantibanez) on Oct 4, 2019 at 7:52pm PDT

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A post shared by Tamara Santibañez (@tamarasantibanez)

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Thanks to Jake from Denver for making the trip, I loved making this one

A post shared by Tamara Santibañez (@tamarasantibanez) on Sep 21, 2019 at 10:04am PDT

Mister Cartoon

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My Boi Placaso is a savage for getting the armpit shot! he’s so covered in Ink this was one of the last spaces of canvas he had left! He is also a talented tattoo artist,follow @placasotattoos Thank you to all for the support of @laoriginalsfilm means a lot #MisterCartoon @bishoprotary @nocturnaltattooink @h2oceanproteam #tattoo #blackandgreytattoo #clown #clownmakeup

A post shared by Mister Cartoon (@misterctoons) on Apr 21, 2020 at 1:58pm PDT

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“LA Originals” still crackin on NETFIX,directed by @estevanoriol thanks to all for the coo comments and support .this is footage from the past ..a back piece I shot after the sesh was done! #MisterCartoon @pablojtattoos

A post shared by Mister Cartoon (@misterctoons) on Apr 13, 2020 at 3:07pm PDT

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Black & Grey Fridaze! #MisterCartoon @bishoprotary @aftercareh2ocean

A post shared by Mister Cartoon (@misterctoons) on Feb 21, 2020 at 10:18am PST

Chuco Moreno

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The enemy is blinded by his hate, thoughts of oppression and is chained to his weak, limited mind set. The key to freedom and the path to victory lies in the knowledge that there are no limitations when drawing from a infinite source and that the power of light has the ability to cast away all darkness stay the course homes, This too shall pass.. -All in H/F #chucomoreno

A post shared by Chuco Moreno (@chucomoreno95237) on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:27am PST

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Old school tats for a new generation.. #chucomoreno

A post shared by Chuco Moreno (@chucomoreno95237) on Mar 1, 2020 at 9:41am PST

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#chucomoreno

A post shared by Chuco Moreno (@chucomoreno95237) on Jan 22, 2020 at 3:01pm PST

Jose Lopez

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A post shared by Jose Lopez (@joselopez_lowridertattoo)

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A post shared by Jose Lopez (@joselopez_lowridertattoo)

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A post shared by Jose Lopez (@joselopez_lowridertattoo)

Chicano Ace

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Miss being at work..hope everyones doin alright @bishoprotary #art #arts #artist #artcollective #artistic #photo #movie #realism #tattoo #tattoos #tattooart #Toronto #yyz #instagram #instadaily #instago #instapic #instagood #tfl #tflers #fff #igers #torontolife #ink #progress #realistic #tat #worldwide

A post shared by Ace (@chicanoace) on Apr 5, 2020 at 6:35pm PDT

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Religious piece on a client who flew in from Colorado, thanks for making the trip g @bishoprotary @workhorseirons @toddhlavaty #art #arts #artist #artcollective #artistic #photo #religion #realism #tattoo #tattoos #tattooart #Toronto #yyz #instagram #instadaily #instago #instapic #instagood #tfl #tflers #fff #igers #torontolife #ink #progress #realistic #tat #worldwide

A post shared by Ace (@chicanoace) on Dec 9, 2019 at 6:06pm PST

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In The Hands of the Devil | last nights work, start to a new leg sleeve. @bishoprotary #art #arts #artist #artcollective #artistic #photo #crime #realism #tattoo #tattoos #tattooart #Toronto #yyz #instagram #instadaily #instago #instapic #instagood #tfl #tflers #fff #igers #torontolife #ink #progress #realistic #tat #worldwide

A post shared by Ace (@chicanoace) on Oct 21, 2019 at 5:54pm PDT

Elvia Guadian

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I just wanna send some love and good vibes out there today, this is a time none of us expected but affects and impact all of us all. Be safe, stay healthy. Follow precautions and wash your hands!!. ❤️ Tattoo on @thefakar check his work. ✨ Solo quiero mandar mucho amor y buenas vibras hoy para todos, estamos pasando una situación que nadie esperaba pero nos afecta e impacta a todos. Mantente seguro, saludable, sigue precauciones y lava tus manos!!!. ❤️ Al momento @tatuajesdereyes sigue abierto en horario normal. Y como siempre con los más altos estándares de hygiene y limpieza para asegurar que el staff y los clientes este seguros. ✨✨Done with @bigsleepsink #bigsleepsink @balm_tattoo @balm_tattoomx #balmtattoo #balmtattoomexico #balmtattooproteam #ElviaGuadian #Guadalajara #Mexico #Jalisco #Tatuajesdereyes #bishoprotary #California

A post shared by Elvia Guadian (@elvia_guadian) on Mar 17, 2020 at 12:04pm PDT

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See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil (Cover Up) MEXICO CITY next week! Citas/ appointments: [email protected] Tattoo done with the best products: @bigsleepsink #Bigsleepsink @balm_tattoo @balm_tattoomx #balmtattoo #ElviaGuadian #tatuajesdereyes #Guadalajara #Jalisco #Mexico

A post shared by Elvia Guadian (@elvia_guadian) on Jan 20, 2020 at 11:53am PST

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Amor eterno, another one of my favorites for Day of the dead celebration ❤️ Otro de mis tatuajes favoritos para la celebración de el día de los muertos ✨ #Tatuajesdereyes #ElviaGuadian #DiaDeLosMuertos #DayOftheDead #Mexico #BigSleepsInk

A post shared by Elvia Guadian (@elvia_guadian) on Nov 2, 2019 at 1:45pm PDT

El Whyner

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tattoo I did a few years ago while in Rome. #tattoo

A post shared by el_whyner (@el_whyner) on Apr 20, 2020 at 4:09pm PDT

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“Jebuz” “When I used to tattoo” lol #tattoo

A post shared by el_whyner (@el_whyner) on Apr 12, 2020 at 10:34am PDT

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Small cuore I did a year or two ago. Motherfucking archives. #sacredheart #sacrocuore #tattoo #blackandgrey #bangbang

A post shared by el_whyner (@el_whyner) on Apr 3, 2020 at 5:18pm PDT

Meysson Martins

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⚒☠️⚒ . . #tattoo #tatuagem #blackandgrey #blackandgreytattoo #angeltattoo #chicano #chicanostyle #mexicanstyle_tattoos #inked #chicanotattoo #tattooart

A post shared by MEYSSON MARTINS TATTOO (@meyssonmartins) on Apr 23, 2020 at 2:03pm PDT

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☠️ ☠️ . . #tattoo #tatuagem #blackandgrey #blackandgreytattoo #clowngirl #payasa #chicana #chola #chicano #mexicanstyle_tattoos #inked #chicanotattoo #tattooart

A post shared by MEYSSON MARTINS TATTOO (@meyssonmartins) on Apr 22, 2020 at 1:47pm PDT

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Fechamento de braço que iniciei em 2017. Boa parte do trabalho foi feito com agulhas 3RL e está cicatrizado. Neste final de semana fizemos o fundo e finalizamos algumas partes! Comenta aii se curtiu! . Orçamentos: (42) 98811-3880 . #tattoo #tatuagem #blackandgrey #blackandgreytattoo #chicano #mexicanstyle_tattoos #inked #chicanotattoo #ink #tattooart #religioustattoo #jesustattoo #virginmary #angeltattoo #fechamentodebraço #3rl #tatuagembrasil #pretoecinza

A post shared by MEYSSON MARTINS TATTOO (@meyssonmartins) on Aug 1, 2019 at 7:01am PDT

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