A permanent display for permanent ink
Tattoo artist “Doc” Don Lucas is a legendary figure in the field. He spent his long career in the trade traveling the world, gathering both stories and artifacts. He was born and raised near a naval shipyard in California and started his tattoo apprenticeship in 1972 under “Rangoon” Ricky Bordeaux. In 1983, Lucas moved to New Orleans and opened a studio when tattoos were far more fringe than they are today. He recalls that back then, “the city disliked you, the police hated you, nobody wanted you to move next door—you were a pariah.”
Among Lucas’ protégés was Henri Montegut, whose son, Adam, followed in his career path. Adam came to share Lucas’ passion for preserving the history and traditions of tattoos, and used Kickstarter and other funding sources to create a 2000-square-foot ode to ink in the form of a tattoo museum and studio. The space is divided into three sections. The gallery displays contemporary tattoo art and the work of non-tattoo artists, like Ralph Steadman, deeply admired by the owners. The tattoo parlor offers the services of Adam and other gifted artists. The museum features rotating exhibits, showcasing items from the collection of Doc Don. These include 60 years’ worth of designs by famed skin artist George Webb. Webb’s “flash” paintings—punctured hearts, skulls, daggers wrapped in banners—line the museum’s entrance.
Info
Address 1915-1/2 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70113, +1 504.218.5319, www.nolatattoomuseum.com | Hours Tue–Sat 1pm–7pm, Mon by appointment, closed Sun| Tip There are more than 75 tattoo parlors in the metro area. Electric Ladyland (610 Frenchmen St) employs the most artists and is the most popular. Aart Accent (1041 N Rampart St) is the most venerable. Owner Jacci Gresham, the first female black tattoo artist in the United States, opened her shop in 1976.
Inside display cases you’ll find a variety of paraphernalia and vintage objects, from old tattoo guns and pigment bottles to framed photographs of inked carnival sideshow performers and the original paintings and drawings of legendary tattoo artists. There’s also a collection of taxidermy animals, which seem to have nothing to do with the museum but are cool nonetheless.
The stunning logo for the museum, designed by Adam, is available on T-shirts, posters (some signed), and burned into wood with a wax seal of authenticity.
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