Pop culture tattoos are some of the most fun designs to tattoo. Movies, anime, horror, gaming, music, cartoons, books, comics, iconic characters, cult classics, strange little references that only the right people understand. That is the good stuff.

At Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh, pop culture is a huge part of who we are. Our artists are all into something, whether it is horror, anime, film, music, gaming, fantasy, strange cult classics or the sort of niche reference that makes you go - “finally, someone gets it.”

Most days in the studio, there is a movie playing, music on, or someone deep-diving into a reference that has no business becoming a tattoo, but absolutely should. Pop culture is not just something we tattoo. It's our entire day. 

At Eleven Pillars, we specialise in custom tattoo design in Melbourne. That means we can take your favourite character, scene, quote, symbol or fandom and redesign it into something personal, tattooable and built for your body. 

Tattoo by Chris

Where To Start?

1. Establish Your Theme

It might be a character you grew up with, a horror movie that shaped your taste, an anime that got you through a rough patch, a game you have played for years, or a tiny background detail that makes you laugh every time.

A pop culture tattoo does not need to be obvious to everyone. In fact, sometimes the best ones are a little subtle and only recognisable within your inner circle. A symbol, prop, quote fragment, object, weapon, mask, flower, frame or colour palette can say just as much as a full character portrait.

Tattoo by Jamie 

2. Bring References, But Expect a Redesign

Screenshots, posters, comic panels, character art, other tattoos, Pinterest images and AI concepts can all help us understand the direction you like. But we do not copy existing tattoos, designs or AI generated images. 

At Eleven Pillars, we only do custom work. We use your references as inspiration, then redesign the idea so it works for your placement, size, style and body.

A good tattoo artist knows how to keep the feeling of the reference while making it work properly on your skin.

Tattoo by Luke

3. Choose the Right Tattoo Style

The style you choose can completely change the feel of your tattoo.

A horror character might look incredible in black and grey realism. An anime design might need clean colour packing and sharp character work. 

This is where artist matching matters.

For example at our studio Toni is known for her steady hand and incredible fineline skill while Nado is best known for his bold dark neo-traditonal and blackwork style. 

The right artist will not just recreate an image. They will translate it into a tattoo that suits the style, placement and vibe you are after. So whether you're after a fineline, softly shaded Ghost Face or a large scale colour-realism potrait of Captain Jack Sparrow - we have the right artist for your concept desired tattoo style. 

Tattoo by Nado

4. Make It Personal

The easiest way to personalise a tattoo is to add something that connects it to you - and it doesnt have to be in a soppy way!

That might be a flower, date, quote, background element, symbolic object, a particular colour, decorative frame, ornamental detail or a mash-up of two ideas. It could also be about the way the tattoo is composed. Maybe the character is shown through a mirror, a VHS frame, a gothic arch, a comic panel or a surreal design - the options are endless.

You do not need to overcomplicate it. Sometimes one small custom detail is enough to make the tattoo feel personal.

The best pop culture tattoos still honour the original reference, but they do not feel like everyone else’s version.

Tattoo by Chris

Think About Placement and Longevity

Placement matters.

A small tattoo cannot hold the same amount of detail as a large one. Fine lines, tiny faces, small lettering and busy backgrounds need to be simplified so they heal cleanly and age properly overtime.

Your artist will guide you on what size and placement will work best. Sometimes going a little larger gives the tattoo more breathing room. Sometimes simplifying the design makes it stronger when we reduce the size. 

A tattoo should look good now, but it should also still make sense years from now. That's something AI does not consider when generating tattoo designs and highlights the importance of having a tattoo artist create a custom piece for you. 

Tattoo by Luke 

How the Process Works at Eleven Pillars

Send us a brief description of what you are after, along with any inspiration images. You can request a quote here. 

From there, we will help match you with the right artist for the style. For more complex pieces, we may ask you to come in for a no-obligation free consultation, especially if the design is large, detailed or needs a face to face chat to get the concept right.

Once your appointment is booked and your deposit is paid, you can relax. The artist does the design work.

Our policy is to send the design one day prior to your appointment. We welcome a reasonable amount of changes so the design is locked in before you arrive.

Tattoo by Chris

Ready to Book a Tattoo in Melbourne?

If you are looking for a custom pop culture tattoo in Melbourne, Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh can help turn your favourite fandom into something personal, polished and properly tattooable.

We are close to Chadstone Shopping Centre, Carnegie, Bentleigh, Malvern East, Clayton and Oakleigh South.

Parking is easy, with 2-hour street parking in Oakleigh, free parking at Oakleigh train station just a 1-minute walk away, and paid all-day parking at Oakleigh Central.

Send through your idea, your references and where you want it tattooed, and we can take it from there.

Request a quote here. 

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Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio
19a Portman Street, Oakleigh
Tattoos tailored to you