Black Panther inspires new tattoo designs

TORONTO — When Black Panther hit theatres, Toronto tattoo artist D.C Nchama saw an opportunity to fill a void, instil a sense of pride and dispel myths in his craft.

Inspired by the film’s Afrofuturism esthetic and African cultural motifs, he designed a series of Black Panther tattoos and recently inked one of them, of a Dora Milaje-style warrior, on a woman’s inner forearm. The Funky Ink Tattoo Gallery artist, whose father is a Zulu, of the Ngoni tribes, from Malawi in Africa, hopes such work will bring a much-needed African cultural identity to the tattoo world, and stamp out the stigma that darker skin tones are difficult to ink.

Toronto tattoo artist Thomarya (Tee) Fergus says a growing emergence of Black Panther tattoos is part of an awakening when it comes to tattooing darker skin.

Elisheba Israel Mrozik, artist/owner of One Drop Ink Tattoo in Nashville, has some Black Panther pieces on the company Instagram account (@onedropink). She says she’s noticed more African-American clients asking for unique cultural designs.

Nchama, Fergus and Mrozik all say they’ve had experiences with the stigma against tattooing on darker skin.

Nchama recalls one artist in a parlour telling him: “I feel that black skin doesn’t work well for tattooing.”

Fergus says she’s heard it ever since she got into the craft : “I’m always like, ‘That’s a lie.’ I try to be a walking testament to that.”