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Inked Mag Staff

May 7th, 2020

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Panther Tattoos

If you're looking for a timeless classic that will always be cool, grab yourself a panther tattoo.

I don’t know about you, but I vividly remember the moment that I understood why people were into tattoos. I was in second or third grade. A new family was moving into our boring suburban neighborhood outside of Oakland, California. I wandered over to their house to see what was happening because I was a precocious youngster, a real pain-in-the-ass. And that’s where I saw it. One of the movers had an enormous, black panther tattooed on his forearm. 

It wasn’t the first tattoo I’d ever seen, far from it. When I saw the sleek, powerful cat crawling up this man’s arm, something inside of me clicked. I knew right then that many years later my own body would be tattooed. 

Panthers are a staple of American Traditional tattooing, simply because they look so damn tough. There is something about looking at a panther tattoo clawing someone’s skin as if it needs to hold on that is unspeakably cool. Or a fierce panther head, all crazy eyes and sharp teeth. 

Of course, panther tattoos are about a whole lot more than just their timeless style. I don’t know if you ever noticed this before, but panthers are black. Do you know what black ink is really good at doing? Covering up your ex’s name. Panther tattoos, particularly back in the day, were a the go-to for people who needed a cover-up. 

In the gallery below you’ll find a whole bunch of different takes on the classic panther motif. Each artist has taken the panther and made it something of their own, but one thing remains a constant—they look so fucking cool. 

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Black panther with Japanese body suit designed by Walt Dailey. Tattooed by me on my home boy Jeff. Finished last month. Fully melted in. We will add Back ground eventually. @smithstreettattooparlour @waltdailey

A post shared by Bert Krak (@bertkrak) on Feb 16, 2020 at 5:27pm PST

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That one time I tattooed @fitzpatricktattoo’s back in 2013

A post shared by Myke Chambers (@mykechambers) on Apr 20, 2020 at 5:27pm PDT

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Healed on @scoundrels.312 #greatlakestattoo #chipdouglasglt

A post shared by Chip Douglas (@chipdouglastattoo) on Jan 14, 2019 at 9:46am PST

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First walk up of the day designed by the GOAT!! He’s always watching. #greatlakestattoo #walkintattoo #chicagotattooshops #aregulartattooman #ralphjohnstone

A post shared by Nick Colella (@nickcolella) on Mar 7, 2020 at 1:34pm PST

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Walk in of the day Panthers always welcome. Done at the world famous @taylorstreettattoo #chicagotattoo #chicagotattoos #chicagotattooartist

A post shared by Mike Attack (@mikeattack_tattoo) on Jul 14, 2019 at 7:08pm PDT

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Quick little CAT TAT done at #bostontattoocompany #cambridge ➡️ swipe for video ➡️ Thanks for coming! #inkmasterseason13 #bostontattoo #traditionaltattoo #panthertattoo

A post shared by Jimmy Snaz (@jimmy_snaz) on Nov 30, 2019 at 9:04am PST

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Panther head by @paulo_benevides. Paulo has time this week! He’s here every week except Thursdays and Sundays. Email Fivepointstattoonyc@gmail.com to book in an appointment. #5pointstattoonyc

A post shared by Five Points Tattoo NYC (@fivepointsnyc) on Sep 5, 2019 at 8:43am PDT

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@fivepointsnyc books always open #2020

A post shared by ROB BANKS (@robbanksofamerica) on Jan 19, 2020 at 6:38pm PST

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Animals holding Chicago stars. #greatlakestattoo #greatlakestattoochicago #grandavetatcrew #kevinleary #kevinlearytattoo #kevinlearytattoos #kevinlearyglt #therealkevinlearytattoo #chicagostars #animalsholdingstars #animalsholdingchicagostars

A post shared by ᏦᏋᏤᏆᏁ ᏝᏋᎪᏒᎽ ★ (@kevinlearytattoo) on Apr 2, 2019 at 12:43pm PDT

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@smithstreettattooparlour

A post shared by Kane Gordon (@kanegordon_) on Apr 8, 2020 at 9:41am PDT

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A post shared by @steveboltz on Mar 4, 2017 at 11:13am PST

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I’m a cat guy. Are you?

A post shared by DAN SMITH (@dansmithism) on Aug 9, 2019 at 9:36am PDT

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Incase you forgot. I’m a Tattooer by trade.

A post shared by Scott Sylvia (@scsylvia) on Oct 16, 2019 at 10:32am PDT

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Oh. By the way, I’m a tattooer by trade.

A post shared by Scott Sylvia (@scsylvia) on Apr 3, 2018 at 10:17pm PDT

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Purrci, a kutya! @g.the.best . . . . #trad #traditional #traditionaltattoo #neotradeu #tradsub #neotradeu #neotradsub #tattoosnob #budapesttattoo #skinarttraditional #worldfamousink #kwadroncartridges #skinartmag #panthertattoo #breakthechain #inkjecta #wheretheytatt #tattooartistmag #tttism

A post shared by Szente Zoltán (@zoltan_szente) on May 7, 2020 at 6:49am PDT

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Panther on head

A post shared by fobiart (@fobi_tattooer) on Feb 9, 2020 at 5:30pm PST

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Flipping through the photo archives and I found one I forgot to post. I remember doing it but I’ve got no clue when, maybe last summer? Time is a strange concept right now. Think I’m gonna need a second apprenticeship to remember what I’m doing after this lockdown. #sheffield #sheffieldtattoo

A post shared by Joe Frost (@hellomynamesjoe) on May 3, 2020 at 3:31am PDT

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Tuve la oportunidad de realizar este cover up, y estoy contento con el resultado final gracias por la confianza y por aceptar mi propuesta para lograr cubrir por completo el antiguo tatuaje @blacksoul_tattooslp . . @sin_odio_team_ @sinodio13 . . . #sinodio #sinodioteam #eternalink #eternal #coveruptattoo #coverup #panther #panthertattoo #panthertattoos #neotraditionaltattoo #neotraditional #neotradsub #neotradicionaltattoo #neotrad #neotraditionaltattooers #neotradstyle #neotradicional_mexico #monsterenergy #tatuadoresmexicanos #tattoo #tattoos #tattoostyle

A post shared by Ruben Charre (@rubencharre) on May 5, 2020 at 6:50am PDT

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Fully healed tattoo that I finished a little bit more than one year ago on the craziest @painwizardtattoo ! Thanks for the pictures and for the good times

A post shared by Francesco Schiavi (@francescoschiavi) on Dec 18, 2019 at 12:06pm PST

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Classic panther/rose done at @boldwillhold.tattoo . . . #samuelebriganti #traditionaltattoo #tradworkers #tradwork #boldwillholdfirenze #sunskintattoo #panthertattoo

A post shared by samuelebriganti (@samuelebriganti) on Jan 9, 2020 at 11:31am PST

It’s impossible to put together an article celebrating panther tattoos without including the OG—the Sucky Panther. If you’re doing a panther tattoo, please make sure it doesn’t look like this. Unless, you get crazy and do something like this: 

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I made my first #suckypanther tattoo for my buddy @willtherealdealsmith! Its funny how nervous I was. I Really wanted to do the best bad tattoo I could do. I think it came out just sucky enough to pass! @suckytattoos

A post shared by Drew Wilson (@drewlr) on Jan 28, 2019 at 6:37pm PST

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