tribal tattoo
Bold black bodywork
A tribal tattoo is a tattoo design featuring bold black lines, geometric patterns, and abstract shapes inspired by—or imitating—the traditional body art of Polynesian, Maori, or other indigenous cultures.
The style became hugely popular in the 1990s, often applied without cultural connection: He got a tribal tattoo on his bicep in college.
The term sometimes carries dismissive connotations, suggesting dated or generic ink.
Of Pacific island peoples
- MaoriNew Zealand's indigenous people
- SamoanPolynesian person or tongue
- HawaiianFrom the 50th state
- BorneoSoutheast Asian mega-island
Celtic · indigenous · heritage · ancestry · tradition · clan · lineage · identity
Writing fluid
- blackworkEmbroidery using dark thread
- sleeveGarment's arm portion
- designPurposeful creative planning
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
artist · studio · needle · permanent · skin · outline · shading · fill
Spiritual clan symbol
- protectionGuarding against harm
- strengthPower to exert force
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
- sacredWorthy of reverence
mythology · warrior · spearhead · sun · ocean · shark teeth · tiki · turtle
Courageous and daring
- blackDarkest possible hue
- curvedSmoothly bent, not angular
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
flame · band · symmetrical · flowing · abstract · silhouette · negative space · solid
Polynesian
Of Pacific island peoples
Borneo · Celtic · indigenous · heritage · ancestry · tradition · clan · lineage · identity · rites of passage
ink
Writing fluid
pattern · artist · studio · needle · permanent · skin · outline · shading · fill · pigment
totem
Spiritual clan symbol
- protectionGuarding against harm
- strengthPower to exert force
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
sacred · mythology · warrior · spearhead · sun · ocean · shark teeth · tiki · turtle · stingray
bold
Courageous and daring
- blackDarkest possible hue
- curvedSmoothly bent, not angular
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
angular · flame · band · symmetrical · flowing · abstract · silhouette · negative space · solid · wraparound
- body artsleeve, flash art, cover up, back piece, portrait
- body modificationbody modification, piercing, piercings, stretched lobes, scarification
- tribal lifetribesman, chieftain, elder council, warrior, hunter
- tribal symbolstotem, totem pole, clan crest, dreamcatcher, medicine wheel
- BorneoBorneo, Brunei, orangutan, hornbill, longhouse
- tropicsequator, tropical climate, coconut tree, tropical, tropical zone
tribal tattoowatercolor tattoo
Body art resembling wet-medium painting
portrait tattoo · geometric tattoo · script tattoo · dotwork · blackwork
tribe, tattoo, tribal, tattoos, tribalism, tattooing, tattooed, intertribal, tribally