Having opened their doors in 2013, owner Nick Colella had been in the industry for over twenty years when he, alongside his wife, wanted to create a one-of-a-kind space with an attitude-free atmosphere that would celebrate and honor the art of tattooing; past, present, and future. With the motto of "cleanliness and civility", they recruited some of the best veteran and up-and-coming tattooers with a variety of portfolios to round out their artist roster and curated Chicago's landmark tattoo shop. Great Lakes Tattoo also houses an art gallery and event space - the Great State Gallery - which presents art shows, literature readings, live music events and more. Additionally, Great Lakes tattoo showcases a hugely important collection of tattoo memorabilia and hosts guest tattooers every month from all over the globe, keeping Chicago on the map as one of the best places for tattoo art and culture in the world.
