New Mexico Inspired Tattoo Designs

We asked our readers about their New Mexico inspired tattoo designs and the stories behind them. If you have a deep love for the environment, spirituality, and culture of New Mexico, then expressing that love through amazing body art can be the perfect way to carry New Mexico with you wherever you go.

Let’s look at some great New Mexico inspired tattoo designs and how you can come up with the perfect one to express your culture, your experiences, and your pride in New Mexico!

New Mexico Inspired Tattoo Designs to Represent Your Roots

If you were raised in New Mexico and consider it your home, then you’ll always have it in your heart. This is true even if you end up wandering far away from your home on your life adventures. One of our readers is in the Air Force and stationed all the way in Alaska! Of course, New Mexico is still home, and the couple in Alaska decided to honor their roots with a beautiful and creative expression that includes the Zia symbol with roots to represent where their hearts remain. Danielle explained, “No matter where the Air Force sends us, our roots are in New Mexico.” You can tell it’s true to their bones when the image prominently features roasted green chile!

New Mexico Inspired Tattoo Designs for Nature Lovers

When you think of your New Mexico experiences, what comes to mind? Is it the bright beautiful sun and amazing sunsets? Is it the awe inspiring night skies? Maybe it’s the desert scenery, the landscape, the cacti, and the animals. Whatever it is, if you love New Mexico nature, why not incorporate that love into your New Mexico inspired tattoo design? You could use a symbol that’s specific to New Mexico, or you could just express yourself with your own personal reminder of the incredible nature of the state.

A tattoo design with stars can remind you of evenings spent under a clear starry sky, maybe camping in the Cosmic Campground in Glenwood or simply laying in your back yard looking up at the night sky.

If you prefer the daytime sunshine or wish to remember your best New Mexico summer, then a colorful sunshine tattoo might be a better option for you.

Of course, if you love the wildlife more than anything, there are a range of great options to choose from. Do you want to use the New Mexico state animal (black bear) or the New Mexico state bird (roadrunner)? Would you like one of the other amazing animals that you’ve seen on your New Mexico adventures? There are all kinds of amazing creatures that you’ll find in New Mexico, including majestic owls, cougars, and all kinds of incredible reptiles and insects. Maybe you’re the type to enjoy a rattlesnake or scorpion tattoo.

Others prefer to convey their memories of the landscape, the desert, the dunes, and the plants. Kobi Ann grew up in Alamogordo and spent plenty of joyous childhood days at the White Sands. She enjoyed the full moon nights with her family and sliding down the dunes. She even did an archaeological internship in the area while she was in college. Kobi calls the white sands “the most beautiful and surreal place” that she’s ever been.

Naturally, despite moving away for work, she still wanted to carry this part of her history with her. She drew the rough outline with a yucca plant, the white sands, and the Colorado mountains in the background. The scene is inside of an arrowhead to represent her career in archaeology. She took her rough sketch to Vincent Angeles, and he helped her turn her dream into a reality.

But maybe a cactus is more representative of your New Mexico nature experiences.

New Mexico Inspired Tattoo Designs with a Person Touch

There are many ways to express your love of New Mexico, with or without traditional symbols. You can incorporate memories, dreams and accomplishments, skills, quotes, and more. You can express your personality and what New Mexico means to you. Your New Mexico inspired tattoo design might be colorful, artistic, and striking.

Or it could incorporate your favorite memories and entertainers. Sam Patten shared his New Mexico inspired tattoo design that incorporates the Zia symbol and his love for the Grateful Dead. His family was among the original Hispanic settlers in the 1600’s, and his love for the state runs deep. Sam said, ‘My tattoo is inspired by my love of New Mexico and the Grateful Dead..  they go hand in hand.’

Then, there are those who use meaningful quotes to express their love of New Mexico. You might choose to incorporate the New Mexico state motto in your tattoo, ‘Crescit Eundo,’ meaning ‘It Grows as It Goes.’ You might like to include a line, in English or Spanish, from the New Mexico state poem.

Maybe there’s a quote that’s more personal and meaningful to you and your New Mexico experiences. It could be something you learned while visiting or growing up in the state. It might even be a line from your favorite New Mexico book or a quote from an amazing New Mexico poet.

Consider incorporating your favorite quote in your New Mexico inspired tattoo design, with or without other symbols that reveal its meaning to you.

Where Should You Get Your New Mexico Inspired Tattoo?

There are a lot of talented tattoo artists throughout New Mexico. Make sure that you visit a professional in your area and do your research. Look at their work and talk to them about your ideas and designs. If you’re going to be in Albuquerque, call Ascension Body Modification! This beautiful Zia tattoo with a personal touch is by Sam Castro (@scastro29 on Instagram) at Ascension Body Modification.

Also, look into tattoo conventions in your area, like the Las Cruces Tattoo Convention for more ideas. Feel free to share your New Mexico inspired tattoo ideas and images in the comments.  Share this post with your friends who might be looking for ideas and inspiration for their next tattoos.