Great Lakes Tattoo

Great Lakes Tattoo Cleanliness and Civility Great Lakes Tattoo is one of the most respected and remarkable tattoo shops around today.
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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.

DESA by  Hand tattoo by  from  flashThe GLT walls have it all and our tattooers tattoo their own flash and each others d...
06/02/2026

DESA by

Hand tattoo by from flash

The GLT walls have it all and our tattooers tattoo their own flash and each others daily.
All designs made to last!

Beatdown is in the shop every week on Thursday, Friday & Sunday, Monday

Walk-in or book ahead!

The cat man is at again. Tattoo and flash by  🐈If you’re not getting tattooed from Mike’s flash — you’re missing out. Mi...
06/01/2026

The cat man is at again. Tattoo and flash by 🐈

If you’re not getting tattooed from Mike’s flash — you’re missing out.

Mike Dalton is at Great Lakes Tattoo Tuesdays - Saturdays and would love to tattoo some cats or any of his flash on you.

Walk-in or book ahead! Link in bio.

05/29/2026

We take walk-ins everyday and on Saturdays we take WALK-INS ONLY!!!! Hurry up and come get tattooed so you can show them off this summer! 🦍🕶️☀️

✨Customer Spotlight ✨From Chicago, Joshua (aka Yahushua, aka Gramma Kaiser, aka J Bone if you’re Mario) first heard abou...
05/29/2026

✨Customer Spotlight ✨
From Chicago, Joshua (aka Yahushua, aka Gramma Kaiser, aka J Bone if you’re Mario) first heard about GLT when his now-husband got his hand tattooed by Kevin Leary in 2018.

He’s been getting tattooed himself for more than 16 years and has work from Nick, Brandon, Mike, Mario, Chip, Matt, Danni, Kevin, Felix, and a handful of guests including

GLT was lucky enough to have Joshua at the front counter for a couple years.
Now Joshua works as a project manager and
horticulturist for a landscape contractor.

Outside of work, he loves hunting estate and rummage sales, cooking and throwing dinner parties, visiting conservatories and gardens, and attending the CSO with his husband.

His favorite company? Their two pitties, Princess Leia (15) and Sassy (4).

Joshua is also rumored (by his nephews) to be a vampire — a rumor his years long
resistance to COVID kept alive. 🧛

Swipe to see some of his favorites, including his back piece by Nick Colella, originally designed by Cliff Raven.

✨GLT wouldn’t be what it is without the people who get tattooed here. We’ve decided to put the spotlight on them and the work they’ve collected from our tattooers and guest artists.✨

📸 .theory

Sassy shrimp 🦐💅with a sassy bouffant for Wanessa by  AND …a sassy shrimp with a sassy bouffant by Wanessa for  !Brandon ...
05/28/2026

Sassy shrimp 🦐💅with a sassy bouffant for Wanessa by AND …
a sassy shrimp with a sassy bouffant by Wanessa for !

Brandon is in the shop Tuesdays - Thursday and loves shrimp! 🍤🍤🍤

Book in bio or walk on in!

Blackout blastover!💥Walk-in second layer tattooed by . Design from  flash. Tattooed at Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago Nick ...
05/27/2026

Blackout blastover!💥
Walk-in second layer tattooed by .
Design from flash.

Tattooed at Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago

Nick takes walk-ins every day he’s in the shop - Tues - Sat and by compromise books appointments on Thursdays.

Book through our website - link in bio or walk-in, we meant it.

Did you know  does one-shot tattoos and even takes walk-ins on Saturdays before 4PM? (No sneaking in sessions on continu...
05/26/2026

Did you know does
one-shot tattoos and even takes walk-ins on Saturdays before 4PM?
(No sneaking in sessions on continuing
work 😎)

Well, it’s true! Chip is known for large-scale Japanese and Tribal work, but he also enjoys doing one-shot and smaller tattoos.

Book ahead via the link in bio like you would for large work or try your luck as a Saturday walk-in before 4PM.

A few June appointments are still available, including two coveted weekend spots!

July & August availability coming soon!

American traditional tattoos in a black and grey colorway by  📍Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago Nick is in the shop Thursdays...
05/24/2026

American traditional tattoos in a black and grey colorway by

📍Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago

Nick is in the shop Thursdays - Mondays

Walk in
Book ahead - link in bio





GLT FLASH SHEET FRIDAY—🌡️Heat advisory warning ‼️Featuring a sheet by  📍Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago📌 Save this post for ...
05/22/2026

GLT FLASH SHEET FRIDAY—
🌡️Heat advisory warning ‼️
Featuring a sheet by

📍Great Lakes Tattoo, Chicago

📌 Save this post for your next tattoo and check our Highlights to see all of our Flash Sheet posts.

We regularly share sheets from our collection of original, hand-painted tattoo flash to give you a look into our extensive flash library. It’s usually on a Friday.

Our flash tattoos are available every day by walk-in or appointment. With hundreds of tattoo flash sheets to choose from—and new designs added regularly—there’s something for everyone.

No special discount days or tattoo deals. Just quality tattooing every day.

Stop by the shop any day of the week to get tattooed, browse our flash, and plan your next tattoo. Walk-in always.




✨Customer Spotlight✨Erin first found her way to GLT after meeting some of our tattooers through their regular visits to ...
05/21/2026

✨Customer Spotlight✨

Erin first found her way to GLT after meeting some of our tattooers through their regular visits to Au Cheval, where she worked at the time.

She has been getting tattooed for almost 20 years and has been tattooed by Nick, Mario, Erik, Danni, and a few guests at Great Lakes Tattoo including

When she’s not getting tattooed, Erin is one of Chicago’s finest real estate brokers — and in our opinion, one of the best in the business. Give her a follow for all your real estate needs.

She lives in Avondale with her lovely wife and adorable toddler, and her free time looks a lot like hunting down sweet treats, exploring nature preserves, going on walks, and whatever other toddler-approved adventures the day brings.

Swipe through to see her tattoo collection. Her current favorite is the angel and devil heads by Nick — an inside joke between her and her mom, who loves all of her tattoos.

Oh, and fun fact: Erin was 👑prom queen in high school. She may or may not have wanted us to include that, but we love it, so it stays. 😉

✨GLT wouldn’t be what it is without the people who get tattooed here. We’ve decided to put the spotlight on them and the work they’ve collected from our tattooers and guest artists.✨

📸 .theory

Address

1148 W Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL
60642

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7pm
Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 7pm

Telephone

+13128700458

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