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Inked Mag Staff

July 29th, 2020

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Lion Tattoos

We have a lot of pride in these tattoos featuring the King of the Jungle.

Apparently we’re in the middle of something called “Leo Season.” Coworkers of mine are obsessed with the horoscope, whereas I think the whole thing is rubbish. But… I was born in August, thus I’m a Leo. When people talk about Leo Season, I just figure that it’s all a celebration of me. Plus, lions are cool. So why not use the whole thing as an excuse to look at some badass lion tattoos? 

The King of the Jungle has been a muse of artists for centuries. It really is impossible to look at a lion without marveling at its majesty, with the possible exception of a Detroit Lion. No majesty there. 

As far as tattoos go, I noticed something odd during my extensive research for this article. Most lion tattoos end up being in black-and-grey or color realism. Much to my surprise there are very few traditional lion tattoos out in the world. There are tons of panthers and tigers, but for some reason the king of all big cats gets left out of the fun. I’ve been pondering this for a while and the best possible thesis I have is that American traditional is heavily influenced by Japanese tattooing, and there aren’t any lions in Japan. Of course, it only took me about 30 seconds to obliterate this theory—there aren’t any gorillas or wolves or bald eagles in Japan either, but tons of those tattoo designs exist—so we’re back to square one. 

That all being said, there are a lot of tremendous lion tattoos out in the world. Probably many more than there are actual lions left in the wild. If you love lions, don’t waste your time watching the “live action” “Lion King” movie and enjoy this gallery of lion tattoos instead. 

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Angry Lion #tattooart #nature #lion #liontattoo #blackandgrey #blackandgreytattoo #bng #tattoo #inked #ink #theblackandgreytattooleague #campinas #barcelona #blackandwhite #tattoodesign #art #kwadron #tatuagemrealista #campinas #campinastattoo #freshlyinkedmagazine #eurotattoo #barcelonatattoo #catalunyatattoo @contramaotattoo @logiabarcelona @freshlyinkedmagazine @skinart_mag @inkedmag @fanartattoo @best.tattoo.styles @tatuageminspiration @tattoo2me @inkkaddicted @tattoo.artists @tattoorealistic @tattooz.inked @tattooloveart @tattoolifemagazine @tattooistartmag

A post shared by Diego Almeida Tattoo ‍☠️ (@diegoalmeidatattoo) on Jul 25, 2020 at 6:15pm PDT

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Essere forti è l’unica alternativa che abbiamo.. #tattoo #tattoos #tattoodo #tattoolion #tattooink #tattooist #tattoolover #tattoolovers #tattooartist #artist #art #lionking #liontattoo #lionclub #thinkdifferent

A post shared by Gabriele Pellerone (@gabrielepellerone) on Jul 27, 2020 at 4:33am PDT

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Thank you, Kasia! all done with @lithuanian_irons #liontattoo #lion #neotraditionaltattoo #neotraditional #neotradworldwide #neotraditionaleurope #tattooistartmag #tattoosnob #tattoolifemagazine

A post shared by Monika Boo (@monikabooo) on Jul 27, 2020 at 9:35am PDT

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we have two beautiful Lion King tattoos, which one is your favorite? by @rober_villanueva2 __ #disney #disneytattoo #lionking2019 #lionkingtattoo #roilion #roiliontattoo #colorstattoo #realismtattoo #tattooloveart #crazytattoos #cartoontattoo #cartoondrawing #simbatattoo #pumba #pumbatattoo #disneyphotography

A post shared by anime.manga.tattoos (@cartoonstattooz) on Jun 22, 2020 at 2:15am PDT

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붉은끼 제거 후 촬영한 심바 . . #tattooistpooh

A post shared by 타투이스트푸-캐릭터타투 (@tattooist_pooh) on May 27, 2020 at 5:34am PDT

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1-10❔ ‍♂️ Credits to @kir_tattoo #liontattoo #liontattoos #tattooideas #tattooinspiration #legtattoo #animaltattoo #colortattoo #besttattoo #wowtattoo #realistictattoo

A post shared by BEST TATTOOS WORLDWIDE (@tattoo_inkspiring) on Jul 18, 2020 at 4:31pm PDT

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The king #tattoo #tattoos #tattooink #tattooist #tattoodo #tattooart #tattooartist #tattooist #tattooer #tattooed #inoed #inkedboy #inkedlife #lionking #lions #lion #liontattoos #lionsofinstagram #thinkdifferent

A post shared by Gabriele Pellerone (@gabrielepellerone) on Jul 28, 2020 at 4:21am PDT

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Close up!!

A post shared by Yomicoart (@yomicoart) on May 22, 2020 at 8:39pm PDT

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A day and a half with Mr @wei_koh_revolution done @singaporeinkshow . What a great show and organization! Thank you so much @sean_oh15 for having me out! Was awesome to be back in Singapore! #bishoprotary #inkeeze #blackandwhite

A post shared by carlos torres (@carlostorresart) on Apr 8, 2019 at 9:35am PDT

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True Lion @ovonoel #tattoo #tattoos #ink #animal #inked #lion #toronto #canada #cheyenne #dynamicink #tats

A post shared by INAL BERSEKOV (@inalbersekov) on Aug 25, 2017 at 12:42pm PDT

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Last nights Jam on a dear friend. -Needles: @davincineedles single, 3tight – – Other gear: @tacsciences @inkeeze @bishoprotary @nocturnaltattooink #lionofjudah #friendship #jesus #healyourlife

A post shared by FRANCO VESCOVI (@franco_vescovi) on Dec 21, 2017 at 6:48pm PST

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• • Email Appts@ryanmullinsart.com for appointments Made with #inkeeze #bishoprotary #fusionink #stencilstuff @kingpintattoosupply #opustattoogloves #kwadronneedles #h2oceanaftercare #sullenclothing #lion #liontattoo #liontattoos

A post shared by Ryan Mullins (@ryanmullinsart) on Mar 9, 2020 at 1:13pm PDT

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Lion done few weeks ago at @boldwillhold.tattoo . . . #samuelebriganti #traditionaltattoo #tradworkers #boldwillhold #sunskintattoomachines #liontattoo

A post shared by samuelebriganti (@samuelebriganti) on Oct 16, 2019 at 10:39am PDT

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⚜ LEÃO ⚜ Mais um felino que subiu por aqui ORÇAMENTOS PELO WHATSAPP (11) 94086-9341 . . . #leaotattoo #tattoolife #tattoomodel #tattooistartmag #tattoodesign #tattooing #tattooabc #tattooinspiration #tattoosaopaulo #tattooart #tattoosombreada #tattooed #tattoosp #tattoobrasil #tatuagem #tattoooftheday #tattoorealistic #realismotattoo #realistictattoos #blackandgray #brasiltattoo #tattooist #tattooartist #saobernardodocampo #saopaulo #saocaetanodosul #santoandre

A post shared by NETO COUTINHO TATTOO (@netocoutinhotattoo) on Jul 22, 2020 at 8:46am PDT

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A post shared by Jia 지아 (@paw.tattoo) on Jul 7, 2020 at 9:41am PDT

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Pieza del viernes en homenaje a Queen , gracias @crimiboada un placer. En @tattoogirona #bng #blackandgrey #blackandgreyrealism #blackandgreytattoo #radtattoos #liontattoo #tbsta #spaintattoo #wildtattoo #gironatattoo

A post shared by DZ Tattoo (@josepdztattoo) on Jul 12, 2020 at 11:52am PDT

And we would be remiss if we did not include the most famous (or infamous) of all lion tattoos, Cara Delevingne’s finger tattoo by Bang Bang. 

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