Tribal tattoo ideas

556 photos and flash · 54% Blackwork, 9% Geometric · Upper arm most common

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Two forearms with bold black geometric tribal-style bands tattooed around the wrist and forearm, one with zigzag and diamond patterns and one with dense panels of symmetrical motifs.
Black geometric bands on two forearms
Black tribal-style phoenix design with outstretched flame-shaped wings and a tail of flames, drawn in solid black ink on white paper.
Tribal phoenix in flames
Black tribal-style anchor design with ornamental swirls and sharp blade-like points, shown as a drawing with no body part visible.
Tribal anchor design
Black and grey tribal swirl tattoo covering the shoulder and upper arm, with a hand resting on the chest against a dark background.
Swirling tribal sleeve on shoulder and upper arm
Solid black tribal band tattoo wrapping around a wrist, with sharp flame-like points and a small central motif, in a casual indoor photo.
Tribal band tattoo around a wrist
Black tribal-style flash design showing two turtles, a gecko, a lizard and a small spiral motif on a white background.
Tribal turtles, gecko and lizard flash sheet
Bold black tribal tattoo with a red and grey Celtic knot circle on a man's upper arm and shoulder.
Tribal and Celtic knot upper arm tattoo
Black tribal-style dragon design with a flared head and sweeping tail wrapping around an open circle, drawn in bold solid linework on a white background.
Tribal dragon coiling around a circle
Black ink tribal-style drawing of a howling wolf head in profile on a white background, shown as a tattoo design rather than on skin.
Howling wolf tribal design
Black tribal-style wolf design with blue flame trails and a swirl at its centre, drawn on a plain white background.
Tribal wolf with blue flames
Black tribal tattoo design of a pentagram inside a sun motif, flanked by spiked wings, shown on a white background.
Winged pentagram tribal design
Black tribal-style crescent moon wrapping around a solid sun on the upper back near the shoulder blade.
Crescent moon and sun on upper back
Black tribal tattoo covering a man's left shoulder, chest and upper arm down to the forearm, with spirals, zigzags and a central face-like motif.
Tribal shoulder, chest and arm sleeve
Black Polynesian-style tribal tattoo covering a thigh and knee, with bold swirls, chevrons and a solid band below the knee.
Polynesian tribal leg tattoo
Black tribal tattoo of bands, zigzags and triangles covering a forearm, shown with coffee cups and a paper bag on a pavement.
Tribal band tattoo on a forearm
Black tribal flash sheet of stacked bands with carved-style tiki faces and interlocking swirls, shown on white paper with no tattoo placement.
Tribal pattern flash sheet with tiki faces
Black tribal flash design of two dragons with outstretched wings forming a heart, with a small rose at the base.
Tribal dragons forming a heart with a rose
Black tribal-style dragon head beside a yin yang symbol, with sweeping black lines, shown as a flat design on a white background.
Tribal dragon and yin yang design
Black tribal tattoo of bold circles, spirals and sweeping blades covering a shoulder and upper arm, in a blackwork style.
Tribal shoulder tattoo with spirals and circles
Black tribal spiral and geometric tattoo across the back of a hand and wrist, with a small flower near the wrist, beside a gold bangle.
Tribal spiral tattoo on the back of a hand
Black tribal tattoo in a Polynesian style covering the shoulder and upper arm of a person, with bold chevron bands and solid black fills.
Polynesian-style tribal shoulder and arm sleeve
Black and white tribal design of a snake with its mouth open, showing fangs and a forked tongue, set against swirling blackwork flame shapes; drawn design with no body placement shown.
Tribal snake design
Black tribal-style panther design with flowing curved lines, clawed paws and a curled tail, shown on a white background as a flash drawing.
Tribal panther design, black silhouette
Black ink tribal ornament with swirling scrolls running down the centre of a bare back, a blackwork tattoo on the upper back.
Symmetrical tribal ornament down the spine
Black tribal-style bird design with spread wings and a tail of pointed plumes, shown as flash on a white background.
Tribal bird with spread wings
Bold black tribal sleeve tattoo with swirling and spiked shapes covering a man's upper arm and forearm, with his torso and a tiled studio room visible behind.
Tribal black sleeve on upper arm and forearm
Black tribal-style cat with a striped, curled tail tattooed on the upper back near the shoulder blade.
Tribal cat with striped tail on upper back
Black tribal tattoo of sweeping bands across a bare shoulder and upper back, in a blackwork style.
Tribal band tattoo on shoulder and back
Black tribal-style butterfly tattoo with a blue outline and swirling antennae, placed on the ankle.
Tribal butterfly with blue outline on an ankle
Large solid black tribal tattoo across a man's upper back and down the spine, photographed from behind in a bathroom.
Tribal back tattoo down the spine
Solid black tribal swirl tattoo with curved spikes and spirals on the upper arm and shoulder of a person in a white vest top.
Black tribal swirl tattoo on upper arm
Black blackwork-style tattoo on an upper arm showing a blue police box, with a swirling dragon-like shape and dotted spatter around it.
TARDIS within a black tribal swirl on upper arm
Black tribal-style shark design drawn in solid black linework and swirl patterns on a white background, with no body placement shown.
Tribal shark tattoo design
Black tribal pattern tattoo on the back of a hand and wrist, with a gold and red bracelet on the wrist.
Tribal pattern on the back of a hand
Two mirrored black tribal designs on a white background, with bold swirling shapes, spiky edges and fine patterned detail, shown as flash for a sleeve.
Pair of black tribal sleeve designs
Black tribal-style design of a woman with flowing hair entwined with a winged dragon, drawn in bold solid linework on a white background.
Tribal woman and dragon design
Cross tattoo made of pale blue Celtic knotwork outlines and solid black tribal swirls on skin.
Celtic knot cross with tribal swirls
Back view of a man with a large black tribal tattoo of swirls and spikes across his upper back, shoulder and upper arm.
Tribal swirl tattoo across a man's back and shoulder
Black tribal-style wolf head design in solid black ink on white, with three small stars trailing below it.
Tribal wolf head with three stars
Black Polynesian-style tribal tattoo with swirling bands wrapping around an ankle and up onto the top of the foot, in a black and grey photograph.
Polynesian-style tribal band on an ankle
Black and grey tribal blackwork tattoo with a circular chest panel and a band running down the upper arm, on a shirtless man outdoors.
Black tribal tattoo across shoulder and chest
Two-panel photo of a black and grey tribal upper arm tattoo with a shaded circle, shown before and after a solid black cover-up with a dotwork fade at the lower arm.
Tribal and dotwork upper arm cover-up
Solid black tribal flame design on a white background, shown as a flash drawing rather than on skin.
Black tribal flame design
Black tribal flash design of a turtle with spiral and wave patterns, set along a long curved band, with no body placement shown.
Tribal turtle design in a curved band
Solid black tribal dragon design with interlocking knotwork body and swirling tail, shown on a white background as a flash drawing.
Tribal dragon design
Blackwork tribal tattoo in blue-grey ink on a person's upper back, with a small asterisk above and tiny lettering below.
Tribal shape on upper back
Close-up of a solid black tribal tattoo behind a person's ear, running along the hairline and neck in a blackwork style.
Black tribal tattoo behind the ear
Black tribal and Celtic knotwork design of a six-pointed star with a braided circle at its centre, shown on a plain white background.
Six-pointed tribal and knotwork star design