Last year some pretty epic tattoos were inked.
There are few things that can go viral as quickly as a well-executed tattoo design. Photos of tattoos have been going viral ever since viral was a thing, but last year was especially notable as an unusual amount of tattoo designs were consistently among the most shared, pinned, and liked images on social media. Aside from the flurry of innovative and creative tattoo designs that went viral this year, tiny and minimalistic designs were this year’s Cinderella story.
When you’re on the hunt for that perfect tattoo design, life can be tough. On one hand, you want to find a tattoo design that takes your breath away and will continue to do so many years down the road. On the other hand, you want to get a tattoo now. ASAP. Last friggin’ week. This usually results in a compromise between the two but it doesn’t always have to. Like with anything, preparation is key, and when it comes to tattoo designs, this means looking at as many examples as possible. So to help you hit the ground running, and hopefully get the best of both worlds, here’s a look at a few of last year’s most viral tattoo designs. You’ll definitely be impressed.
The hibiscus triangle.
When it comes to those creative tattoos that we often uninsightfully describe as “triangular or circular glyphs,” Felipe Kross is one of the best in the business. We’re happy to say that we had a hand in showcasing his work to over a hundred thousand people who all appreciated his work as much as we did. This hibiscus triangle will go down as one of our favorite and most memorable tattoo designs of 2016. (Photo: Felipe Kross)
The peacock feather.
While this tattoo didn’t go quite as viral as some of the other designs on our list, it definitely got the wow factor votes. When it comes to tattoo designs that went viral, a few different factors come into play, and those factors usually fall into two main categories. Tattoos that people save and share because they are seriously considering getting that tattoo in the future. And tattoos that people save and share based on how beautiful and awe-inspiring they are no matter what the level of difficulty. You see tattoos such as the one above, and many others like it, are one of a kind pieces. Like many other works of art, there are maybe a handful of other artists capable of achieving anything even remotely similar to the original design, if at all. (Photo: Balazs Bercsenyi)
The bluebonnet forearm piece.
Floral tattoos are almost in a league of their own when it comes to going viral. Meaning that the number of floral tattoos that go viral far out number those of a non floral nature that go viral. That’s just how things are. This branch of bluebonnet blossoms perfectly matches the subjects dress and illustrates just how important photo composition can be. (Photo: Amanda Wachob)
The comforting quote.
This age-old quote that brings relief during hard times and helps those in prosperity stay humble, is not originally a Lord of The Rings quote as many people had commented before. This quote was done in Fin’s signature script font which is one of our favorite original fonts. (Photo: Fin Tattoos)
The watercolor elephant.
So much of Pis Saro’s work constantly goes viral that choosing only a few of her tattoos to include on this list proved to be a daunting task. This breathtaking watercolor elephant was executed with so much style and expertise that it’s hard to believe it was actually created with just a needle and ink. (Photo: Pis Saro)
The birds on a line.
This minimalistic tattoo design went so viral that multiple temporary tattoo companies decided to produce their own—very similar—version and market it to the masses. And as you would imagine, the amount of copy cat designs that pay homage to this design are nothing short of overwhelming. (Photo: Tusz za Rogiem)
The X-Ray flower.
X-Ray flowers may just be the coolest images ever inked. Originally inspired by a radiologist’s X-Ray photographs of flowers taken during the 1930’s, these fascinating designs illustrate nature’s elegant lines in the absence of color. (Photo: Tom de Vries)
The circular tree of life.
Crisp, clean, and so enticing that you probably just forgot about the other tattoos on this list, this circular tree of life tattoo has everything you could possibly want when it comes to a stand alone statement piece. (Photo: Maria Fernandez)
The floral thigh piece.
Last year, large floral pieces like the peonies shown above dominated the summer scene. When it comes to large floral compositions, especially peonies, Anna Bravo and her stunning blackwork florals usually come to mind. But when it comes to floral tattoos in general, it’s tough to beat the detail and soft vintage feel of South Korean tattooist Grain’s wonderful works of art. (Photo: Tattooist Grain)
The colorful watercolor rose.
