Tattoo Nation: The Most Important Documentary on Permanent Art...Ever

By now, you've either seen Tattoo Nation (more than once) or you've been living under a rock. 
Conceived by Eric Schwartz and brought to life by the forefathers of West Coast tattoo culture, this documentary may just be one of the most important films within the industry.

Tattooing in the United States is at an all-time high in terms of popularity and acceptance, and it's quite obvious that the industry has changed considerably over the last century. There are now multiple television shows dedicated to tattooing, institutions fashioned toward the education of tattoos and countless celebrities sporting permanent artwork on their body. The public has been aware of tattoos for quite some time now, but never before has a considerable percentage of the general public been tattooed themselves.

David Oropeza and sons

With a constantly growing number of tattoo shops opening in every town across the country, it can be difficult to choose the right shop if you're not well connected within the industry. Which shop has the best artists? How much am I going to pay for this tattoo? Do I need to make an appointment for this? While these may be some common questions for your average customer, you should be asking yourself “How well do these artists truly understand the history behind tattooing, and how have they applied that knowledge to their own practice?” Director Eric Schwartz decided that he wanted to help tell the general public a story about how modern tattooing came to be, an idea more than seven years in the making. Tattoo Nation is that idea.


Eric Schwartz is a professional photographer, and his client list has allowed him to meet some very established members from differing industries. The tattoo industry is no different, and with a chance meeting with legend Edward Caballero, better known as Chuco amongst the world's finest tattooists, Eric had a basis for his documentary. Having grown up in New York and transplanted to California later in life, Eric had never seen such immaculate black and gray work in his life. Chuco was happy to introduce Eric, a blank canvas with no tattoos, to his friends and artists in the tattoo community, and from there, the documentary had started. One such friend of Chuco's was David Oropeza, a tattoo collector and well-respected member of his community who would ultimately help Eric create the exact vision for this film.

Freddy and a mural from the past

Although Tattoo Nation began life as a 27-minute short featured in a local gallery night of Eric's, it quickly became so much more when producer and colleague John Corry encouraged Eric to expand the project.

“He said, 'this should be a TV thing!'” recalls Eric. “But we talked some more and came up with [the film]. We started production two years later, and here it is.”

With so much of the tattoo industry in the mainstream light, it can be difficult to understand what's pure and what's merely a misrepresentation of the truth. Tattoo reality shows have dominated a variety of television channels over the last few years, and in a way, have helped usher in a new generation of tattoo collectors. Aside from the drama and scripted aspect of some of these shows, director Eric Schwartz believes that reality shows have helped non-tattoo members of the world better understand what tattooing is all about. Because emotions and real, every day people are involved, it helps the general public become more familiar with the artform.

“The motivation of the film is like blue's music,” tells Eric. “It didn't start with Elvis Presley, and tattoos didn't start with reality shows. I wanted people to know where it came from, and the Chicano culture helped shape the revolution. It came from the prisons. These 'white guys' opened up a shop in a war zone and took on Freddy Negrete.”

Freddy tattooing Ed Hardy

Prior to the introduction of Chicano art in the tattooing world, traditional Japanese- and American-style tattooing was made common by the likes of Ed Hardy, Norman K. Collins, Lyle Tuttle and many more. But Freddy Negrete and his innovative prison-style work opened up the doors for customers to bring their ideas to the artists, and not vice versa. And thus, Tattoo Nation sets out to help better translate this history.

The film doesn't conclude without the assistance of such recognizable celebrities like Danny Trejo, a seasoned veteran of both Chicano tattooing and the old school way of life, and Travis Barker, a self-made musician with a lifetime of memories celebrated through his nearly complete bodysuit of tattoos. Because today's society is so attached to the idea of our favorite celebrities having tattoos, it's likely that the permanent artwork

Theater showings of Tattoo Nation happened on April 4^th and April 6^th in major cities across the country, while private viewings occurred as early as late March. If you missed the premiere, there's no need to worry. Tattoo Nation will soon be available on DVD and streamable online. For more information on how you can check it out and become more involved, visit http://tattoonation.com.