A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Two of my favorite tattooed faces

Meet body modification artist and superstar Emilio Gonzalez (left) and performance artist Lucky Diamond Rich (right) at the Smack Party in NYC. Photo by Efrain Gonzalez.

Comments

74 responses to “Two of my favorite tattooed faces”

  1. Inkpad Avatar
    Inkpad

    I love facial tattooing… but are these the best examples to show to the world?

    Emilio is just O.K., but his tattooing is still kind of crappy and poorly done. Not attractive at all.

    As for Lucky Diamond Rich, what is his point? Any fool can have tattoo needles run over his face until any semblance of artwork is utterly obliterated and meaningless.

    I don’t get it!

  2. Inkpad Avatar
    Inkpad

    I love facial tattooing… but are these the best examples to show to the world?

    Emilio is just O.K., but his tattooing is still kind of crappy and poorly done. Not attractive at all.

    As for Lucky Diamond Rich, what is his point? Any fool can have tattoo needles run over his face until any semblance of artwork is utterly obliterated and meaningless.

    I don’t get it!

  3. LovinglyLost Avatar
    LovinglyLost

    Intense and I love it!

  4. LovinglyLost Avatar
    LovinglyLost

    Intense and I love it!

  5. LeaveThePoliticsToMadmen Avatar
    LeaveThePoliticsToMadmen

    I love the red that lucky diamond rich added to his face and hand. I saw him on a talk show (i think montel or something like that) not too long ago and it ws mainly just black.. so its nice to see he has added color to where the black has faded.

  6. LeaveThePoliticsToMadmen Avatar
    LeaveThePoliticsToMadmen

    I love the red that lucky diamond rich added to his face and hand. I saw him on a talk show (i think montel or something like that) not too long ago and it ws mainly just black.. so its nice to see he has added color to where the black has faded.

  7. Erik Avatar
    Erik

    I really dig LDR’s “claw scratch” scar- very simple but great impact.

  8. Erik Avatar
    Erik

    I really dig LDR’s “claw scratch” scar- very simple but great impact.

  9. Vienna Avatar

    Why was he on Montel? I hope it was a good thing.

  10. Vienna Avatar

    Why was he on Montel? I hope it was a good thing.

  11. Volatile Avatar

    It’s not “where the black has faded” – he had Xed Le Head and others power in white ink over the black, and then powered red over the white… 🙂 He’s up to 8 layers thick in some places…

  12. Volatile Avatar

    It’s not “where the black has faded” – he had Xed Le Head and others power in white ink over the black, and then powered red over the white… 🙂 He’s up to 8 layers thick in some places…

  13. total Avatar

    The first post was obviously posted by somebody thats not too intelligent. Who cares what you think is artwork. Im sure they dont.

    Personally i beleive these are two very beautiful men (and im completely straight) who have done a lot of modification to their bodies. I enjoy looking at them and admire them very much so

    Emillio is a great artist, and ‘lucky’ is a great man.

    oh and:
    “Any fool can have tattoo needles run over his face until any semblance of artwork is utterly obliterated and meaningless.”

    DONT MAKE ME LAUGH! HAHAHHA

  14. total Avatar

    The first post was obviously posted by somebody thats not too intelligent. Who cares what you think is artwork. Im sure they dont.

    Personally i beleive these are two very beautiful men (and im completely straight) who have done a lot of modification to their bodies. I enjoy looking at them and admire them very much so

    Emillio is a great artist, and ‘lucky’ is a great man.

    oh and:
    “Any fool can have tattoo needles run over his face until any semblance of artwork is utterly obliterated and meaningless.”

    DONT MAKE ME LAUGH! HAHAHHA

  15. Wilburt Avatar
    Wilburt

    I came across Lucky Diamond Rich in my local piercers a few years ago. I didnt know who he was, in fact at the time I was a bit scared of him 🙁 (i was 17) He was just hanging around with Paddy. I couldnt help staring at him though, which was very rude of me. He had a bleached blonde sorta double mohawk at the time. Anywho basically im sorry for staring man 🙂
    Saw an interview of him on the net somewhere, he came across as a very down to earth guy.

    Lukas Zpira did the cuttings on the side of his head I believe.

  16. Wilburt Avatar
    Wilburt

    I came across Lucky Diamond Rich in my local piercers a few years ago. I didnt know who he was, in fact at the time I was a bit scared of him 🙁 (i was 17) He was just hanging around with Paddy. I couldnt help staring at him though, which was very rude of me. He had a bleached blonde sorta double mohawk at the time. Anywho basically im sorry for staring man 🙂
    Saw an interview of him on the net somewhere, he came across as a very down to earth guy.

    Lukas Zpira did the cuttings on the side of his head I believe.

  17. bluey Avatar

    HAPPYNESS!!

  18. bluey Avatar

    HAPPYNESS!!

  19. yourmajesty Avatar
    yourmajesty

    i LOVE emillio’s face tat, i usually like lucky’s too but wat did he do to his teeth???

  20. yourmajesty Avatar
    yourmajesty

    i LOVE emillio’s face tat, i usually like lucky’s too but wat did he do to his teeth???

  21. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    Lucky’s got some serious GRILLZ going on with his teeth.

    Actually, I don’t think that’s a grill, I think he’s just got all his teeth capped with metal.

  22. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    Lucky’s got some serious GRILLZ going on with his teeth.

    Actually, I don’t think that’s a grill, I think he’s just got all his teeth capped with metal.

  23. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    In defense of the first post. To assume the it was made by someone that is ‘not too intelligent’ and to state ‘who cares what you think is artwork’ only shows the ignorance of the individual that made post #7. What is art is so entirely subjective that any opnion is as valid as any other and nothing but ego makes an opinion more valid than another.

    As a tattooer, reviewing both pieces from a technical aspect, the facial tattoo on Emilio is a technical failure. Any attempt at symetry is lost. There is no accuracy in execution which leads me to believe the Tattoo was executed by an apprentice or someone that was not too concerned about the quality of their work.

    As far as Lucky D’s work is concerned. Most of it looks like a coverup badly executed. If this was the look he was going for then more power to him. I hope he enjoys living with it. But as a Tattooist this exemplifies a lack of enthusiasm for the concept resulting in a mindless repitition of soft, undefinable pattern. Adding a bit of red niether enhances nor salvages the concept. It only shows that the artist knows this needs major help and that is the best he could come up with. OK, he now has an attention getting pattern covering his body. I’m different, look at me. Sideshow work is going to be a cinch. But don’t throw the ‘A’ word out there. Art is big and it is accepting. Truth is though, this ain’t it.

  24. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    In defense of the first post. To assume the it was made by someone that is ‘not too intelligent’ and to state ‘who cares what you think is artwork’ only shows the ignorance of the individual that made post #7. What is art is so entirely subjective that any opnion is as valid as any other and nothing but ego makes an opinion more valid than another.

    As a tattooer, reviewing both pieces from a technical aspect, the facial tattoo on Emilio is a technical failure. Any attempt at symetry is lost. There is no accuracy in execution which leads me to believe the Tattoo was executed by an apprentice or someone that was not too concerned about the quality of their work.

    As far as Lucky D’s work is concerned. Most of it looks like a coverup badly executed. If this was the look he was going for then more power to him. I hope he enjoys living with it. But as a Tattooist this exemplifies a lack of enthusiasm for the concept resulting in a mindless repitition of soft, undefinable pattern. Adding a bit of red niether enhances nor salvages the concept. It only shows that the artist knows this needs major help and that is the best he could come up with. OK, he now has an attention getting pattern covering his body. I’m different, look at me. Sideshow work is going to be a cinch. But don’t throw the ‘A’ word out there. Art is big and it is accepting. Truth is though, this ain’t it.

  25. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Ooh, an anonymous Internet poster claiming to be able to define “art”.

  26. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Ooh, an anonymous Internet poster claiming to be able to define “art”.

  27. max Avatar

    i love lucky’s stuff, it’s fresh and original.. i just love how he’s all black, and STILL getting tattooed 😀

    most of all i love his earrings, anyone know where they’re from, what they are?

  28. max Avatar

    i love lucky’s stuff, it’s fresh and original.. i just love how he’s all black, and STILL getting tattooed 😀

    most of all i love his earrings, anyone know where they’re from, what they are?

  29. fre_k Avatar

    I’m really liking Emilio’s tunnels, very cool.

  30. fre_k Avatar

    I’m really liking Emilio’s tunnels, very cool.

  31. modifiedcanadian Avatar

    Honestly people, the back and forth is so unnecessary, as is the negativity.

  32. modifiedcanadian Avatar

    Honestly people, the back and forth is so unnecessary, as is the negativity.

  33. Allahkat Avatar

    Aside from lowering oneself down to poo-poo kaka name calling in a post, I don’t see why it’s wrong with someone on here to say, “hmm, nah, I don’t really like it.” to an individual’s bodymods. Just because someone HAS bodymods does not mean that everyone has to like what the person had done and jerk off about how great the piece may or may not be.
    But, to paraphrase myself in the beginning; insults are inflammatory and not needed. If you don’t like something fine. But saying someone is “stupid” for getting a particular bodymod (or for any life choice in particular) is just mean.

  34. Allahkat Avatar

    Aside from lowering oneself down to poo-poo kaka name calling in a post, I don’t see why it’s wrong with someone on here to say, “hmm, nah, I don’t really like it.” to an individual’s bodymods. Just because someone HAS bodymods does not mean that everyone has to like what the person had done and jerk off about how great the piece may or may not be.
    But, to paraphrase myself in the beginning; insults are inflammatory and not needed. If you don’t like something fine. But saying someone is “stupid” for getting a particular bodymod (or for any life choice in particular) is just mean.

  35. mlsmexico Avatar

    I agree. Nobody is asking that anyone like anything.

  36. mlsmexico Avatar

    I agree. Nobody is asking that anyone like anything.

  37. total Avatar

    Yeah i was definately to… quick to insult i guess i should say.

    I just really have a short temper for people that say things like that.

    To me (many people can relate to this). Its similar to people wondering how i can stretch my ears and yet they have ear piercings. They dont make the connection. Although i understand something is more extreme. If it was viewed as regular, they wouldnt even notice me. I guess they dont pick up on everybody having different wants/opinions.

    And when i said “who cares what you think about artwork” I meant that in a way defending lucky. Thats why i followed it by “im sure they dont”. Im not claiming to know what art is. Becuase really i could care less. My opinion is besides the point. Its what it ‘art’ is to them.

  38. total Avatar

    Yeah i was definately to… quick to insult i guess i should say.

    I just really have a short temper for people that say things like that.

    To me (many people can relate to this). Its similar to people wondering how i can stretch my ears and yet they have ear piercings. They dont make the connection. Although i understand something is more extreme. If it was viewed as regular, they wouldnt even notice me. I guess they dont pick up on everybody having different wants/opinions.

    And when i said “who cares what you think about artwork” I meant that in a way defending lucky. Thats why i followed it by “im sure they dont”. Im not claiming to know what art is. Becuase really i could care less. My opinion is besides the point. Its what it ‘art’ is to them.

  39. livingdeadoll Avatar

    Since the human body is considered as art itself, I really don’t see the point in claiming that Lucky’s or Emilio’s tatooas are “unartistic” (or how the hell you say that).

    I honestly think that the “chaothic” work on Lucky’s face was made on purpose to look this way. I would never do such tatoo but I really like it. As for Emilio, you may say his work is asymmetric but i believe that symmetry is impossible to achieve on a human’s face…The lines/dots of his tatoos enhance the nicest parts of his face.

    “Art” doesnt need to be series of drawings done in some ways between two limits. I like to believe that Art is just a way of underlining what is already perfect by itself; in this case, the human body of those two persons.

  40. livingdeadoll Avatar

    Since the human body is considered as art itself, I really don’t see the point in claiming that Lucky’s or Emilio’s tatooas are “unartistic” (or how the hell you say that).

    I honestly think that the “chaothic” work on Lucky’s face was made on purpose to look this way. I would never do such tatoo but I really like it. As for Emilio, you may say his work is asymmetric but i believe that symmetry is impossible to achieve on a human’s face…The lines/dots of his tatoos enhance the nicest parts of his face.

    “Art” doesnt need to be series of drawings done in some ways between two limits. I like to believe that Art is just a way of underlining what is already perfect by itself; in this case, the human body of those two persons.

  41. Ray Avatar

    I thought it’s only art if it’s a hand… *L*

  42. Ray Avatar

    I thought it’s only art if it’s a hand… *L*

  43. DeFStaR Avatar
    DeFStaR

    Emilio Rules anyway!!!

  44. DeFStaR Avatar
    DeFStaR

    Emilio Rules anyway!!!

  45. Volatile Avatar

    Hahah… I can’t believe “Mike” thinks Xed Le Head (who did a large proportion of the blacking out of Lucky’s *entire* skin) is a scratcher…

  46. Volatile Avatar

    Hahah… I can’t believe “Mike” thinks Xed Le Head (who did a large proportion of the blacking out of Lucky’s *entire* skin) is a scratcher…

  47. Sassie_L Avatar

    I think they look great, and I’m sure that as anyone who has mods knows, much thought went into the planning and execution of both examples.

    I also want to comment on how bitchy these comment forums keep on getting. Why do people feel the need to slag off other peoples choices. Opinions are great (everybody has them) but be nice, why stoop to a personal attack when all you are really wanting to say is that you wouldn’t get that particular mod done yourself.

  48. Sassie_L Avatar

    I think they look great, and I’m sure that as anyone who has mods knows, much thought went into the planning and execution of both examples.

    I also want to comment on how bitchy these comment forums keep on getting. Why do people feel the need to slag off other peoples choices. Opinions are great (everybody has them) but be nice, why stoop to a personal attack when all you are really wanting to say is that you wouldn’t get that particular mod done yourself.

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