22 Best Lady Gaga Tattoos And Their Special Meanings

Lady Gaga’s tattoo ideas are not just for her fans. They are meaningful and unique in more ways than one. To put it simply, these tattoos are a visual representation to communicate her love for music and a way to keep that connection close to her. Celebrities, especially musicians, have never shied away from trying out bold body art, and now it is time we experiment with them, too. Lady Gaga is the name that resonates in music and style statements, and her eccentricity draws attention from critics and fans alike. Her unique tattoos have been replicated by fans worldwide, and if you have been waiting to get a clear look at her permanent tattoos and find the meaning behind them, we have it all here. Scroll through to find your next tattoo inspiration!

22 Iconic Lady Gaga Tattoos

1. Monster Claw Tattoo

Lady Gaga lovingly calls this tattoo, which is inked on her back, her “little monster paw.” It is dedicated to her fans for being the pillars of strength who have held her up through the years. She got this tattoo inked in 2014.Licensed tattoo artist Jingxi Gu says, “Out of all Lady Gaga’s tattoos, this is personally my favorite because it is unique, in an interesting placement, and has enough contrast to really “grab” your attention.” The realistic shading and intricate details of this design are cherished by her fans more and more as time passes.

2. Lady Gaga Trumpet Tattoo

The trumpet tattoo on Lady Gaga’s right inner right arm is to honor a Jazz singer who sketched the design for her. It was inked a few months before the release of her album Cheek to Cheek with Tony Bennett.

3. Treble Clef Tattoo

Lady Gaga has a tattoo of a cluster of roses adorning a treble clef on her lower back. The treble clef was her first tattoo, which was done when she was 17 and still struggling with her music career. At 22, she got tattoo artist Kat Von D to envelop it in dark shaded roses.

4. Daisy Tattoo

It is not really known when she got this tattoo of daisies inked on her left shoulder. The three flowers done in a simple outline add a classic look of creativity when she flaunts them in backless gowns.

5. Lady Gaga Peace Tattoo

In 2006, Gaga got a peace symbolic tattoo on her left wrist as a tribute to John Lennon. Radio host JoJo Wright quoted her, “You will notice that if you’re looking at it, it is upside down, but for me, it is right side up.” She wanted the tattoo as a reminder of the genuinely significant things in life.

6. Lady Gaga German Tattoo

While in Japan, Lady Gaga got a tattoo of a German quote on the inside of her left arm. The quote is taken from the author Rainer Maria Rilke’s book, Letters to a Young Poet. The translation reads, “In the deepest hour of the night, confess to yourself that you would die if you were forbidden to write. And look deep into your heart where it spreads its roots, the answer, and ask yourself, must I write?” Under the quote is the date 12/18/1974, which was when she lost her Aunt Joanne Germanotta, who inspired her album, Joanne.

7. Lady Gaga Shoulder Dad Tattoo

Daddy’s girl Lady Gaga got this tattoo done in 2002 after her father’s open-heart surgery. This heart tattoo with ‘Dad’ written on it as an expression of her attachment towards her father.

8. Mother Monster

Eric Gonzalez, who did her paw tattoo, also did the ‘Mother Monster’ design on her rib to mark the fifth anniversary of her album The Fame Monster. The tattoo becomes visible when she throws her hands up in the hair and when she wears tube dresses.

9. Joanne Tattoo

This tattoo was dedicated to her aunt Joanne, who was the inspiration for her album of the same name. The tattoo is her aunt’s actual signature. It is inked on her left arm as a special memory.

10. Lady Gaga Little Monster Tattoo

This ‘Little Monster’ tattoo is sported by one of her fans. Lady Gaga has this same tattoo the inside of her left arm. She got it inked after she won two Grammys for her debut album, The Fame, in 2010. This tattoo is sported by many of her fans, mostly as wrist tattoos.

11. Lady Gaga Unicorn Tattoo

Lady Gaga got this unicorn tattoo on her thigh after announcing her album, Born This Way. It is a unicorn’s head wrapped in a banner announcing the name of the album. This album was dedicated to the LGBT community, and this unicorn tattoo celebrates their choices and individuality.

12. Lady Gaga Artpop Tattoo

As a tradition carried out by her, this album name was also inked as soon as it was released. She inked the title of her 2012 album, ARTPOP, on her left wrist, which became a style statement that her fans followed worldwide.

13. Lady Gaga Anchor Tattoo

In September 2012, Lady Gaga exposed her stylish anchor tattoo on her left rib. It was inked in Amsterdam Tattoo Museum by artist Henk Schiffmacher, who called her a beautiful mermaid.

14. Mouse Tattoo

Lady Gaga dedicated this adorable tattoo to her sister, Natali Germanotta, who she affectionately called “Mouse.” It even says ‘Nat’ at the bottom of the tattoo. The mouse is drawn holding a needle and thread because Natali is a fashion designer.

15. Tokyo Love Tattoo

This shoulder tattoo bearing the words ‘Tokyo Love’ in bold letters was done on Lady Gaga’s trip to Japan in 2009. Gaga got inked while on a trip to Japan in 2009. The design was to honor the first Haus of Gaga, the creative team that worked with Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki.

16. David Bowie tattoo

This portrait tattoo of David Bowie was done on the side of Lady Gaga’s waist. She revealed it at the 58th Annual Grammy Award in 2016 when she performed to pay tribute to the late singer who had passed away the previous month.

17. Haus Tattoo

Lady Gaga tattooed the word ‘Haus’ above the mouse tattoo on her left upper arm to mark the 10th anniversary of Haus of Gaga in 2016.

18. Lady Gaga Tattoo La Vie En Rose

Lady Gaga’s back tattoo, which runs down her spine, is too beautiful to go unnoticed. She got it inked when she got nominated for an Oscar. The words ‘La Vie En Rose’ inked around the rose make it look even more gorgeous.

19. Lady Gaga Music Notes Tattoo

This musical notes tattoo is Lady Gaga’s most popular tattoo. Fans all over the world have tried to decipher this tattoo and find meaning in the assembled notes. Some believe it reads “Gaga” in treble clef. Others think it is a hint for the name of her new album.

20. Infinity Rose Tattoo

This unique tattoo was designed by the tattoo artist Lin, who said it was dedicated to survivors. The pattern is formed by loops resembling DNA strands forming an infinity symbol. It was inspired by Lady Gaga’s love for white roses combined with the fiery nature of her soul.

21. Cherub Head Tattoo

One of Lady Gaga’s most discussed piece of body art is the renaissance-era cherub design tattooed on the back of her head. It was done by artist Mark Mahoney when she launched her perfume at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. When she got the cherub inked, she had shaved off the hair on the back of her head in a triangle to reveal the design. But eventually, the hair grew back and her tattoo is now hidden in her locks.

Trivia

Mark Mahoney, the tattoo artist, later explained that the Renaissance angel was chosen as “a homage to her Italian roots.”

22. Rio Head Tattoo

The word ‘Rio’ is inked below her hairline at the back, beside her left ear. She got it inked during her trip to Rio de Janeiro. When she got this tattoo, she tweeted to her fans, “R†O. Monsters all over the world, you continue to inspire me every day.” The ‘I’ is designed in the form of a cross to add more meaning to the tattoo.

Fun Fact

Lady Gaga has called the right side of her body—which is tattoo-free— “Marilyn Monroe” and the left side of her body “Iggy Pop.” She had promised her father she would keep one side of her body tattoo-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Lady Gaga only tattoo her left side?

In an interview at Google with Marissa Mayer, Lady Gaga stated that it was her father’s request to leave one side of her body as is. Consequently, she made a deliberate decision to tattoo only her left side.

How many tattoos does Gaga have?

Lady Gaga has around 20 tattoos on her body.

What font is Lady Gaga’s “Artpop” tattoo?

Lady Gaga’s “Artpop” tattoo is in Georgia” font at a size 18.

Does Lady Gaga have any tattoos dedicated to her fans or followers?

Lady Gaga got a ‘Little Monsters’ tattoo etched on her inner elbow in 2010 to pay tribute to her fans.

What is Lady Gaga’s most recent tattoo?

Lady Gaga for ‘La Vie en Rose’ inked in 2019, placed on her back. This is her latest tattoo to date.

How does Lady Gaga incorporate her tattoos into her fashion and stage persona?

Lady Gaga has a keen interest in pop culture and arts. This is reflected in her fashion sense and stage persona. The star often tries to fuse art with fashion to create iconic looks.

How old was Lady Gaga when she got her first tattoo?

Lady Gaga was 17 years of age when she got her first tattoo, a ‘tiny treble clef’, on the lower portion of the back.

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Jingxi GuLicensed Tattoo Artist

 

Jingxi Gu is a licensed tattoo artist originally from Shanghai, China. She is also the owner and lead artist at Patch Tattoo Therapy in Tarzana, CA, which offers custom tattoos and tattoo training workshops for aspiring tattoo artists.

Read full bio of Jingxi Gu

Nisha BaghadiaContributor

 

Nisha is a contributor to StyleCraze and has 3 years of experience in content writing for different genres. She is a makeup aficionado and combines her love for makeup and writing to provide her readers with the latest information in the beauty world.

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Subhrojyoti MukherjeeAssociate Editor

Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He has a master’s degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata, and has also done a post-graduate certificate course in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

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Shreya MukherjeeBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Shreya is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. After graduating from Christ University, Bengaluru, she started as a writer for a non-profit organization, Bhumi, as an intern. She then wrote for a progressive content website.

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