Explore Chicago's Premier Blackwork Tattoo
What are blackwork tattoos?
Blackwork tattoos, a unique art form, focus intensely on the heavy use of black ink. This style generally incorporates minimal color, emphasizing a dramatic positive/negative contrast and simple shading techniques. Popularized in western tattooing in the 1990s with Tribal tattoos, blackwork has evolved into various substyles, including cyber sigilism, neo tribal, inkwash, blackout, engraving, etching, ignorant, and fineline tattoos.
At Logan Square Tattoo, several resident artists and recurring guest artists specialize in these diverse blackwork tattoo styles. Whether you're searching for "best blackwork artist" or a "tattoo artist near me," you’ll find world-class craftsmanship in our Chicago studio. From intricate engraving tattoos to bold black ink art, our talented artists excel in bringing your tattoo vision to life.
Discover the artistry of blackwork tattoos by exploring the different substyles below. Click on the artist's photo to learn more about their work and find the perfect tattoo artist for your next piece.
Don't forget to check out our Blog on blackwork with some artist interviews discussing their style and process!
This face tattoo by resident tattooer Bryson is a great example of a classic tribal tattoo style with a modern twist. You can see the influence of metal band type font in the design, using spikey black shapes, almost like a tangle of thorns
This anime inspired piece by Chicago tattooer Caroline Vale ventures into the more illustrative side of blackwork tattooing. It uses elements of fineline tattoos as well as stipple shading and a heavy does of solid black to give the design some backbone. While not blackwork in the traditional sense of lots of heavy black shapes, it takes a more nuanced approach to the style.
This ornamental tattoo gauntlet focuses on a more ornate version of blackwork tattooing. While using lots of gradients and overlapping shapes it still uses large abstract positive and negative areas to reference it's tribal tattoo roots. This piece was done by resident artist Gifford Kasen
Bold solid black makes up this design from artist Bryson. While not completely abstract he uses powerful black shapes to define the large floral tattoo, and solid black ink to make the ornament on top. This would be considered illustrative blackwork.
Cyber sigilism is a newer adaptation of tribal designs that takes references from scifi and cybernetic looks. It almost looks like an alien language or ancient symbols from a distance race. These matching pieces were done by our friend and international guest artist Kamil. Please check out our Guest artist page for availability
Engraving tattoo, woodcut tattoo, etching tattoos all have a similar feel to old woodblock art that was carved out and then relief printed onto a surface. Bryson especially likes to focus on these styles of blackwork, incorporating the textures block cut style into illustrative imagery.
Our Role in the Rich History of Chicago Tattoo Studios
Chicago's tattoo heritage is iconic, starting with Cliff Raven's Chicago Tattoo Company and evolving through pioneers like Guy Aitchison. Logan Square Tattoo, established in 2014 by Gifford Kasen, plays a vital role in this legacy. Located in Chicago's vibrant Logan Square, our studio offers custom tattoos seven days a week. We encourage new clients to explore our artists' portfolios and arrange in-person consultations. Embracing the evolving art form, our team includes diverse full-time and guest artists, infusing new styles into the community. For over a decade, we've celebrated Chicago's tattoo culture, honoring tradition while pushing boundaries for future creativity.