Reviewed and Updated: October 20, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Would you like to get a tattoo inspired by Mexican culture? Then here are the 10 best Mexican tattoos and their meanings for you to explore.
In ancient times, tattooing was used in Mexico to identify criminals by tattooing their past offense on their face or neck.
Tattooing in Mexico has a different history where tattoos in the criminal’s stirrup were inked into the criminal’s neck or face. This was done to mark the criminal as a threat to society, so society could know about their past crimes.
The culture of Mexico is very rich and diverse in tattooing, especially mafia tattooing. Tattoos in combination with religious symbols and various symbols of Mexico are very common and popular in the country.
Mexican tattoos are a big part of Mexican culture. Images with skulls and themes like death are common in Mexican tattoos. There are three main themes in Mexican tattoos. They are Aztec history, religion and the underworld. Death, skulls and ghosts are common tattoo concepts.
Sugar skull tattoos with a woman are popular Mexican tattoo designs. The theme in such tattoos is “a day of the dead” as sugar skulls are used to celebrate the cycle of life and death in Mexico.
Mexican tattoos are often influenced by religion and the Virgin Mary is a common motif of inspiration.
Most Mexican culture tattoos involve sun and sun god. The largest genre of Mexican tattoos is pride tattoos. The religious Mexican tattoo mainly focuses on the religious figures of the Roman Catholic Church. Chicano style is another common Mexican tattoo design. Women, skulls, flowers and religious figures are the common themes for such tattoos. The Aztec tattoos seen in Mexican culture are a way of choosing and honoring a god. The symbolism in this type of tattoo is very strong. Many tattoos are about pride and history. The meaning of the Mexican tattoo depends on the images and the variation of what is being tattooed.
Now that we know the Mexican culture and history, let’s look at some tattoo ideas related to the Mexican people and their country. Among these designs you may find the tattoo that you want to get inked on your arms. Without further ado, let’s see the 10 best mexican tattoo ideas for your next mexican tattoo.
Revolutionary Mexican tattoos
These Mexican tattoo ideas are a representation of Mexican society and culture. This tattoo depicts the leader of the Mexican Revolution, Emilio Zapata. Featuring sharp facial features in fine black lines, this tattoo depicts a detailed realistic portrait of Zapata. The stylish mustache and clothes give him a complete look. He was an iconic figure in Mexican history and is a frequent tattoo inspiration for the Mexicans. This tattoo is placed on the leg but is also suitable for arms and shoulders. Since the tattoo is medium in size, it doesn’t need a large canvas.
Mexican handmade tattoo
Who doesn’t love to have a unique tattoo? This Mexican tattoo differs not only because of its color but also because of its depiction. It almost looks like a piece of fabric has been glued to the arms. The black background with red flowers is in the shape of the map of Mexico. Such Mexican tattoo designs are beautiful and stand as a symbol of celebration of the rich history of embroidery culture in Mexico. The artwork is mixed with bright colors like red and pink that stand out against the skin. This mix of color and embroidery makes the tattooed arm so beautiful. If you want embroidery work on your arms with a Mexican tattoo design, this Mexico tattoo is what you need. Because of the floral pattern, this is a common design choice among women.
Mexican culture embroidery tattoo
Here is another tattoo if you found Mexico’s embroidery culture interesting. This Mexican heritage tattoo is also done in bright colors like blue, red, green, yellow and pink. The imagery is that of a flying bird. The bird’s feathers are done by different colors. These are beautiful tattoos for women. The images and patterns are bright and delightful to look at. These designs are often preferred by women because of the elegant, vibrant design.
Sewn-on tattoos and patches are common in Mexican culture. Reflecting their rich history and pride, Mexican pride tattoos are worn in personal styles by many Mexicans. The bird in the tattoo is a hummingbird, a symbol of freedom. Placed on the forearm, this tattoo has a calming effect. If you want to mix a little embroidery into your tattoo, this radiant tattoo is a great idea and is among the best Mexican tattoos out there.
Mexican chicano tattoo
Chicano art is part of Mexican culture and is among some of the most popular Mexican tattoos. A realistic image of a beautiful woman is inked into this tattoo. The woman is holding a black rose and the rest of the tattoo is in gray color. This Chicano style inspired tattoo could be the next Mexican tattoo for you. This tattoo is very appealing and a bold design of tattoos for women.
Mexican panther tattoo
A black panther can symbolize many things. Courage, beauty, grace, protection, death, the ability to know the darkness are some of the meanings of a Mexican black panther tattoo. The dark color of the animal is reminiscent of death. The panther’s golden eyes are fierce and match the leaves in the background. The exposed, sharp teeth of the panther show the viciousness and strength of the animal. If you want your Mexican tattoo design to have a strong symbol and show fierceness, then this type of tattoo is suitable for that.
Mexican wolf tattoo
This cute little tattoo will steal your heart. The rabbit entwined by a wolf is a feast for the eyes. If you love animal tattoos, this Mexican tattoo will be your next personal favorite. The fox has many symbolic connotations for the Mexican people. Sometimes they are perceived as clever and sometimes worshiped as gods. The ink style and colors used in the tattoo make it look quite realistic. It makes for a nice forearm tattoo.
Mexican spongebob tattoo
If you’re a fan of cartoons, you might be familiar with the Spongebob Squarepants series. The famous cartoon character Squidward from the SpongeBob cartoon wears a Mexican hat. His face and hat are drawn in circular black lines. This Mexican tattoo art also features a red lightning bolt on the character’s face. The face has a dry expression, suggesting he’s not that impressed with the world around him. If you want a tattoo for the sarcastic, wild side of you then this tattoo is for you to explore!
Mexican aztec tattoos
Well, how can we talk about Mexican tattoos without mentioning Aztec? This Aztec tattoo is in the sugar skull style. The image in this tattoo shows the Xochipilli. Xochipilli tattoos are religious symbols of the Mexicans and make for a beautiful Mexican tribal tattoo. Xochipilli is the god of love, art, music and flowers among the Aztecs. He is shown here in gray ink, with aqua blue designs in his crown surrounded by flowing golden mushrooms. Such Aztec tattoos are sure to look stunning when placed all over the body. If you want to mix Mexican culture and history through religion, these types of Aztec tattoos are worth checking out. This would make a suitable tattoo for your legs or arms.
Mexican art tattoo
Another Chicano art idea for your next Mexico tattoo design. The tattoo contains two masked faces showing only an open mouth and upturned eyes. The ink style of the tattoo is a shade of black and white ink used for the eyes and smoke. This is one of the unique Mexican tattoo designs that covers the entire arm from the wrist to the shoulder. The tattoo depicting the Day of the Dead represents Mexican pride. This Mexican sleeve tattoo makes for a haunting look and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go!
Mexican aztec fusion tattoo
This Aztec tattoo has the Coatlicue goddess as the main image in the center. This goddess is the symbol of the earth as creator and destroyer. She is one of the most feared goddesses of the Aztecs in this colorful tattoo, the goddess is scary to behold but there are other images surrounding the main tattoo creating a dazzling yet fearful look. This tattoo features a Sugar Skull tattoo and a snake surrounding the tattooed goddess. The sugar skulls can be seen around the woman’s neck and on her head. The snake can be seen wrapped in braided hair. There are four snakes in the tattoo. The goddess holds a heart in her hand. The reference to la Catrina Skeleton combined with the Mexican skull tattoo design creates a powerful design. This colorful tattoo is very popular among Aztec tattoos.
If you are looking for more Mexico tattoo references, you can check:
- Mexican flag tattoo
- Mexican eagle tattoo
- Mexico City skyline tattoo
- Mexico Aztec Tattoo
- Mexican skull tattoo with female skeleton
Featured image from Pinterest