Philadelphia-Inspired Tattoo Designs
If you’re permanently inking your body, what kind of design would you want? Would a Philadelphia-inspired tattoo design come to mind?
Philadelphia is home to a vibrant tattoo culture with a storied history and diverse community. We in Philly are no strangers to being open and expressing ourselves. Using some ink to do so is not a difficult leap to make.
From the cobblestone streets of Old City to the colorful neighborhoods of Fishtown, Philadelphia’s tattoo culture is as eclectic and dynamic as the city itself.
There are a ton of shops littered throughout the city for you to visit and get inked at. Each shop offers its own unique “thing.” Some are institutions whose history goes back to the 1950s.
Now if you’re getting a tattoo, have you considered showing off your love of the city?
Iconic Philadelphia Landmarks in Tattoo Art
The first and most obvious idea for a tattoo that shows off the City of Brotherly Love would for sure be some sort of city landmark.
When you think of Philly, you think of the Liberty Bell, the LOVE sculpture, or Boathouse Row. Maybe you think of Billy Penn on top of City Hall, or the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Each of those options would make for some pretty cool-looking tattoos. The LOVE sign, for one, can fit in pretty much anywhere on your skin due to its square-ish shape. Its sentiment is also great to include in your set. The Liberty Bell is simply iconic, and if you love your country, you’ll love that design.
Another popular option would be a skyline tattoo.
Some of the most common Philadelphia tats are versions of our iconic skyline. They can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like, ranging from just an outline to a photorealistic rendition. You could even add some color or go crazy and make the skyline imagery your own using your imagination.
The Rocky statue at the base of the Art Museum steps will also make for a killer tattoo if you’re headed the city-landmark-route. Added points if you’re a superfan of the movie. You’re representing two of your loves in one tattoo!
Featuring a Philadelphia landmark on your sleeve would be a fun way to show your love for the city.
Philadelphia Sports-Themed Tattoos
A super obvious, but not at all tired, idea for a Philadelphia-inspired tattoo design would be anything related to our core major league sports teams. Heck, you may even already have one as you’re reading this right now. It’s kind of like wearing the team’s merchandise all the time and never taking it off, which you probably already do anyway, right?
You don’t have to reserve a sports tattoo for championship wins only, although, that is a super popular time to snag one. After the Eagles won Super Bowl LII, there was a boom in Birds-related tattoos.
But like I said, you could always get a sports tattoo just because. An idea for a fun design is any one of our funny mascots (with a heavy emphasis on Gritty and The Phanatic). The iconic orange and green characters make for a fun addition to your collection.
For a big laugh, simply get Gritty’s face, with his large eyes boring holes into your soul.
Philadelphia sports fans are, in a word, passionate. We wear our love for our teams proudly. Do we also criticize them to the highest, most astringent degree? Yes. But all-in-all it comes from a place of love.
So if you’re a huge Philadelphia sports fan, consider channeling that love into a sporty tattoo. It doesn’t have to take a huge victory celebration for you to want to represent your team always.
Historical and Cultural Philadelphia Tattoos
Another category of Philadelphia-inspired tattoo design you could look at is that of cultural tattoos. Philly is rich in history and culture, so you can rep the city that way.
When you think of Philly, you may think of the great people that came from here. You may think of the things we do and say that make us unique. You may think of all the delicious food that comes from here. Whatever it may be, you might want to ink your skin with some culture.
For example, you could get significant city figures tatted on you in some way. Ben Franklin, Kobe Bryant, and Jason Kelce are great examples of people you may want.
Speaking of Jason Kelce, you could get a “No one likes us, we don’t care,” tattoo. A city slogan or slang word are also great options. “Jawn” is also a fun example of a Philly-ism you could represent. Also, “The City of Brotherly Love” would make a rather fun piece.
There are other city icons to consider, such as the SEPTA logo (or tokens, RIP), the Wawa logo, or the city’s area code: 215.
Consider food items that have a strong connection to the city as well. Think cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, or water (wooder) ice. If you’re a foodie, a Philly food tattoo is a must.
All of these items are unique culturally to the city. If you’re into showing the city some love, a nod to our culture is a great starting point.
Philadelphia Street Art and Mural-Inspired Tattoos
If you’ve ever walked the streets of Philly, you’ve probably noticed a ton of gorgeous art. And no, I don’t mean the kind you’d hang in a gallery. Philadelphia is full of fantastic street art, including breathtaking murals.
There is a vibrant mural scene in the city. There is an extensive Mural Arts program that has kept our streets rife with creativity for over 40 years! Public art is a huge part of what makes this city beautiful.
You may have a favorite mural. I enjoy “Electric Philadelphia,” the mural painted by David Guinn and Drew Billiau under the 6th and Vine underpass near the Ben Franklin Bridge. It’s chock-full of vibrant colors and features incredible light fixtures. Its geometric lines and bright hues never fail to captivate me as I drive by.
If you do have a favorite work, consider getting it tattooed! Or, at least get an element of it inked. Some murals are huge, so you may not want all of that detail. But a small portion of a beautiful piece of art may make for a great addition to your sleeve.
Mural Arts are immensely important to the city’s culture. If you want to show your Philly pride, some mural ink would be a fun idea for your next tattoo. It’s a fun idea for a Philadelphia-inspired tattoo design.
Choosing the Right Philadelphia-Inspired Tattoo for You
If you’re dead set on getting a Philadelphia-inspired tattoo in Philly, make sure you have your ducks in a row! It may seem fun to get ink impulsively, but it’s so important to have a good idea of what you’re getting, where you’re getting it, and who you’re getting it from.
If any of these design ideas seem enticing to you, be sure to really comb the internet or the like for reference art your tattoo artist can work from. You want to have a clear picture of what you intend to get.
Also, if you want a photorealistic tattoo, make sure you reach out to artists whose specialty that is. Fine line, American traditional, and blackwork are all examples of other styles of art tattoo artists specialize in.
Research shops to ensure they’re top-rated and have good reviews. Check out their vibe and what they offer and make sure you feel comfortable with your experience. After all, it’s a permanent addition to your body!
Conclusion: Wearing Philadelphia Pride on Your Skin
A Philadelphia-inspired tattoo will allow anyone to express their connection to this beautiful city. Its culture and charisma are to be celebrated. So, get yourself one of these designs if you feel like you want a next-level way to love The City of Brotherly Love back.
Check out all of the incredible local shops the city has to offer and don’t be shy about visiting them! Local tattoo artists work hard and represent our city well.
If you want a place to get all of the tattoo information you could ever want, check out the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Festival. It usually happens at the beginning of the year each year, so head on over.
Showing your city pride with a Philadelphia-inspired tattoo would be so fun. Support local Philadelphia tattoo artists and get a tattoo in Philly!
The Hottest Slang Words to Make You Sound Cool
Extra
I don’t like this slang term. It just sounds silly to me. But, “extra” means “overly dramatic” or “too much.” So, if someone says you’re extra, don’t say, “extra what?” Just tell them that they’re being “extra” for using the term.
Extra
Rent-free
This is kind of a cute one. If you’re crushing on someone, you might say, “Hey, they are living rent-free in my head.” It means you have someone on your mind.
Rent-free.
Cringe
This is an interesting slang term, because it really means the same thing as its traditional definition. If someone says, “That’s so cringe,” they mean something is embarrassing or uncomfortable. Just typing this is kind of cringe for me.
Cringe
Dope
This one isn’t new, but dope is still, well, a dope slang term. It means “awesome.” So, if someone says something you did is dope, it’s a good thing.
Dope
Betty
A “Betty” is an attractive girl or a babe. Someone recently called me a Betty, and I admit that I had to search for the term online to see what the heck they meant. At first, I thought it was an insult.
Betty
OK Boomer
This one is kind of funny. “OK Boomer” is really popular right now, and it’s basically when someone from an older generation is complaining or being condescending towards the younger generation. If someone hates the new music out there, you might say, “OK Boomer,” to them and shrug.
OM Boomer
