American Prison Tattoos is a photo story by Robert Gumpert that explores the meanings behind prisoners’ tattoos in Californian penitentiaries.

“Tattoos may be becoming the norm but before their surge in popularity, tattoos were the province of society’s outcasts: sailors, artists, carnies and outlaws – acting as road maps of their lives: who they were, what they had done, their loves, desires, their sorrows and pains.”

Click to continue


apt-robertgumpert-2

apt-robertgumpert-6

apt-robertgumpert-8

apt-robertgumpert-9

apt-robertgumpert-10

apt-robertgumpert-14

apt-robertgumpert-16

apt-robertgumpert-17

apt-robertgumpert-18

apt-robertgumpert-19

apt-robertgumpert-20

apt-robertgumpert-23

apt-robertgumpert-26

apt-robertgumpert-28

View the entire photo story with audio commentary by two of the inmates at foto8.com.

Visit Robert Gumpert’s site at robertgumpert.com.

Related Posts with Thumbnails