The Evolution of Tattoos In the United States

When the human body became a new form of canvas

Today's Ink

• 1 in 5 Americans have tattoos in the United States
• 90% of Americans do not regret getting their tattoo
• The tattoo industry pulls in more than $3 billion annually
• South Beach, Miami is the city with the most tattoo shops in the country

Acceptance and Self-Branding

• 1860's - Tattoos were embraced initially in England after the Prince of Wales marked himself with a cross for a Medieval ritual
• 1870 - The first known tattoo artist was discovered in New York City, Martin Hildebrandt
• 1891 - Samuel O'Reilly patented first tattoo machine and obtained well known artist, Charles Wagner, as an apprentice

The Twentieth Century

• 1900 - there was a tattoo shop in every major U.S. city
• 1950's - tattoos began to be associated with bikers, gangs,delinquents and with the lower class
• 1960 - The New York City Health Department banned tattos due to a hepatitis B outbreak

American Tattoo Art

• Tattoos initially began as a patriotic act when founder of the Ed Hardy brand, Paul Rogers, began a trend of tattooing eagles and wings on soldiers
• While wartime America began to cover their bodies with tattoos, in small-town America tattoos were primarily seen on circus performers who were part of bizarre body acts
• As the status symbol of wartime America wore off, tattoos begin to get less and less popular amongst the upper class
• Tattoos remained under the surface of popular culture until the Hippie and Punk movements

The Movements

• 1970's - The Hippie movement shifted the view of tattoos being only associated with delinquents when individuals of the elite and famous began to bear peace signs and flower power tattoos
• 1980's - The punk movement began to use tattoos as a symbol of rebellion in political protests

True Artists

• 1980's - academy trained artists joined the movements and began tattooing which further shifted the negative bias towards tattoos
• 1992 - The Alliance of Professional Tattooists establishes a nonprofit founded to address the tattoo industry’s health and safety issues
• 1997 - New York City lifts ban on tattooing offically, although many artists had been operating illegally since the ban within the city

The Twenty-first Century of Tattoos

• 2000's - acceptance and popularity of tattoos begins to skyrocket
• 2006

  - 24% of people ages 18-50 have tattoos

  - 36% of people ages 18-29 have tattoos

• 2010

  - 36% of people ages 18-50 have tattoos

  - 40% of people ages 18-29 have tattoos

• 2016

  - Half of the millenial generation has tattoos

  - 2 in 10 people over the age of 18 have tattoos

  - 69% of people with tattoos have more than one