Tribute Tattoos

Vivid Ink Sutton Coldfield’s Mario had the honour of tattooing Safiyya Vorajee, aka @miss_safiyya_ with a portrait of her gorgeous little angel, baby Azaylia Diamond Cain, earlier this week. Azaliya was only eight weeks old when she was diagnosed with AML Leukaemia. Heartbreakingly, after several rounds of chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and despite a massive outpouring of support via a GoFundme campaign in support of extended treatment with specialists in Singapore, her body gave up the fight, but not after bringing a community together in support of children and their parents who may face similar battles. Her parents have set up a foundation in Azaylia’s name, and people can still donate to the page which can be found here. 

Many people request tattoos in memoriam of loved ones they have lost. And what better way to pay tribute to their lives, even the heartachingly brief, than to carry their image or something symbolic to carry them with us always. Just as they always go on existing inside of us. 

Kobe Bryant tattoos

When basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died so tragically in a helicopter crash along with seven others in January 2020, the amount of tattoos done in their honour was phenomenal. Fellow LA Laker LeBron James had a tribute to Bryant done on his left thigh, a black mamba (Bryant’s nickname and alter ego) surrounded by roses and Bryant’s jersey numbers 24 and 8. Underneath the tattoo sits the phrase ‘Mamba 4 life’. Colleague Anthony Davis also got a black mamba tat combined with Kobe’s logo which represents a sword in a sheath, whereas countless of fans have gotten the Lakers legend’s portrait done, be that in colour or black and grey realism. 

Lady Gaga’s Ziggy Stardust

After David Bowie passed away in January 2016, Lady Gaga performed a tribute to the singer at the Grammys a month later. A little before getting on stage, the singer had legendary LA tattoo artist Mark Mahoney ink a portrait of Bowie as Ziggy Stardust on her left side waist. 

“When I fell in love with David Bowie, when I was living on the Lower East Side, I always felt that his glamor was something he was using to express a message to people that was very healing for their souls,” Gaga said about her relationship to the artist and his music. 

Hummingbird for Robin

One of the most delicate tribute tattoos we have seen is the hummingbird Zelda Williams, the daughter of late comedian and actor Robin Williams, had inked on her hand. Done by Dr Woo, it sits on her right hand reaching out towards her thumb with its graceful beak, something Zelda has said will always make her reach out her hand in greeting with a smile.