The creation of trash polka style tattooing is credited to tattoo artists Simone Pfaff and Volker Merschky in Germany. The name was coined in their Würzburg tattoo studio, Buena Vista Tattoo Club, in 1998 and has become increasingly common since the style’s inception in the late 1990’s. So, what makes a trash polka tattoo?
Traditionally, trash polka tattoos are black and red, giving them a dynamic, eye-catching look. Realistic and/or recognizable imagery is mixed with smears, splatters, geometric designs, and lettering to create a bold, abstract collage. There is almost a dysphoric nature to trash polka tattoos, but the design process is meticulous and made to draw the eye through the tattoo to create a story or invoke a feeling.
Trash polka tattoos are best tattooed over a large area because of the amount of detail required. Frequent trash polka placements are: the back, chest, arms, and legs.
Top trash polka tattoo artists include: Sherry Podesta (Mexico, see left), Aleksandr Mironenko (Russia), Nik Lucas (Los Angeles, CA), Brennan Tattoo (United Kingdom), and of course Volker Merschky and Simone Pfaff (Germany).
A special thanks to Sherry Podesta for letting us reproduce a picture of one of her gorgeous pieces! Definitely check out her Instagram! ¡Muchas gracias, Sherry! ¡Tus tatuajes son maravillosos!
