Tattooed + Tenacious Exhibition

Inked Women In California’s History

About

Almost a quarter of American women now have tattoos, while over a third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 40 wear permanent skin art.

From the upper-class women who started the tattoo craze to the working-class Tattooed Ladies who performed in circus sideshows, this exhibit puts the foremothers of modern tattooing in the spotlight. Through photographs and personal histories, this exhibit uncovers the fascinating and largely unknown story of women and tattoos before WWII. A show-stopping mannequin, hand-drawn by current Bay Area female tattoo artists and specially commissioned for this show, highlights how far women and tattooing have come.

Online Exhibition

In-Person Exhibition

March 9th – May 4th, 2025

LCAD Dennis + Leslie Power Library

Hours
Monday – Thursday – 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Friday – 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
1st Saturday of each month – 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday – closed

Address
2222 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach,CA 92651

Contact
For questions, contact Rand Boyd,
rboyd@lcad.edu
949-376-6000