Cliff Raven
Encyclopedia
Cliff Raven Ingram was one of a handful of tattoo artists
(along with Sailor Jerry
Collins and Don Ed Hardy) who pioneered the adoption of the Japanese tattoo
aesthetic in the U.S. Born in Indiana
as "Cliff H. Ingram," Cliff later adopted his business name of "Raven" as his legal middle name
, largely to facilitate mail delivery.
After attending Indiana University
and receiving a BA in Fine Arts, Cliff took on part time contract work in print and graphic arts for Chicago
’s Spiegel retail stores amongst other projects. Cliff gave himself his first tattoo and later received tattoos from the legendary Phil Sparrow and soon found himself immersed in the tattoo subculture. After some part time work as a tattoo artist in an arcade Cliff went on to open the Cliff Raven Tattoo Studio which is now known as Chicago Tattoo and Piercing Companyhttp://chicagotattoo.com/home.html. Cliff also founded Chicago Tattoo Supply and ran it out of his shop. To this day Chicago Tattoo and Piercing Company is the oldest continuously running Tattoo Studio in Chicago and has some of Cliff’s original flash
still hanging on the walls.
After winning the Tattoo Artist of the Year award from the First Annual International Tattoo Convention in February 1976, Cliff and his partner Dale Grande bought out Lyle Tuttle
’s Sunset Strip
Tattoo Shop http://www.sunsetstriptattoo.com/ in California as Cliff was looking to expand his work in the area of full body Japanese aesthetic Tattooing. Cliff subsequently swapped his interest in the Chicago operations for a full ownership of the West coast operations. He and a partner quickly established Tattoo Works—two sister studios, with one in Los Angeles
(Cliff Raven Studios, now known as Sunset Strip Tattoo) which was, for years, located on the edge of West Hollywood on the famed Sunset Strip, and one in San Francisco (now defunct). While in Hollywood, Cliff had various Hollywood clientele, and he tattooed iconic celebrities such as Cher
, Ringo Starr
and many others. The Cliff Raven Studio was one of only six studios featured in the 1982 publication The Rock Star Tattoo Encyclopedia, by Patricia Steur
, who stated, "In other words - this is one of THE places throughout the world where it's worth going to get a tattoo."
Throughout his career, Cliff mentored
other prominent tattoo artists such as Pat Fish, Larry "Bone$" Haddick, Robert Benedetti, Robert"Mad Dog" Roberts and Greg James, amongst others. Cliff was unusual in that he was an openly gay
man in a profession that, at the time, was strongly homophobic
.
In 1985, Cliff semi-retired from tattooing and moved to 29 Palms
, California. There he wrote editorial cartoons for the High Desert Star and ran a used/rare bookstore, Raven's Books, until his death in 2001. While retired, he infrequently continued to tattoo a select group of long-term clients who sought him out although he was largely withdrawn from the world of tattooing.
His legacy lives on at The Chicago Tattoo Co., 1017 w. Belmont Avenue in Chicago
, one block west of the original location.
Tattoo artist
A tattoo artist is an individual who applies permanent decorative tattoos, often in an established business called a tattoo shop, tattoo studio or tattoo parlour...
(along with Sailor Jerry
Sailor Jerry
Norman Keith Collins was a prominent American tattoo artist who was also known as "Sailor Jerry".-Life:...
Collins and Don Ed Hardy) who pioneered the adoption of the Japanese tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
aesthetic in the U.S. Born in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
as "Cliff H. Ingram," Cliff later adopted his business name of "Raven" as his legal middle name
Middle name
People's names in several cultures include one or more additional names placed between the first given name and the surname. In Canada and the United States all such names are specifically referred to as middle name; in most European countries they would simply be regarded as second, third, etc....
, largely to facilitate mail delivery.
After attending Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and receiving a BA in Fine Arts, Cliff took on part time contract work in print and graphic arts for Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
’s Spiegel retail stores amongst other projects. Cliff gave himself his first tattoo and later received tattoos from the legendary Phil Sparrow and soon found himself immersed in the tattoo subculture. After some part time work as a tattoo artist in an arcade Cliff went on to open the Cliff Raven Tattoo Studio which is now known as Chicago Tattoo and Piercing Companyhttp://chicagotattoo.com/home.html. Cliff also founded Chicago Tattoo Supply and ran it out of his shop. To this day Chicago Tattoo and Piercing Company is the oldest continuously running Tattoo Studio in Chicago and has some of Cliff’s original flash
Flash (tattoo)
A tattoo flash is a stereotypical tattoo design printed or drawn on paper or cardboard, and may be regarded as a species of industrial design. It is typically displayed on the walls of tattoo parlors and in binders to give walk-in customers ideas for tattoos...
still hanging on the walls.
After winning the Tattoo Artist of the Year award from the First Annual International Tattoo Convention in February 1976, Cliff and his partner Dale Grande bought out Lyle Tuttle
Lyle Tuttle
Lyle Tuttle is a well-known American tattoo artist and historian of the medium, who has been tattooing since 1949.-Biographical and career information:...
’s Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
Tattoo Shop http://www.sunsetstriptattoo.com/ in California as Cliff was looking to expand his work in the area of full body Japanese aesthetic Tattooing. Cliff subsequently swapped his interest in the Chicago operations for a full ownership of the West coast operations. He and a partner quickly established Tattoo Works—two sister studios, with one in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
(Cliff Raven Studios, now known as Sunset Strip Tattoo) which was, for years, located on the edge of West Hollywood on the famed Sunset Strip, and one in San Francisco (now defunct). While in Hollywood, Cliff had various Hollywood clientele, and he tattooed iconic celebrities such as Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and many others. The Cliff Raven Studio was one of only six studios featured in the 1982 publication The Rock Star Tattoo Encyclopedia, by Patricia Steur
E.H. Roelfzema
E.H. Roelfzema is the pen name of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema Jr. , Dutch writer, poet, artist, lyricist, and musician. In his art, he used encaustic techniques, as well as polymer resin , and monomer resin...
, who stated, "In other words - this is one of THE places throughout the world where it's worth going to get a tattoo."
Throughout his career, Cliff mentored
Mentorship
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
other prominent tattoo artists such as Pat Fish, Larry "Bone$" Haddick, Robert Benedetti, Robert"Mad Dog" Roberts and Greg James, amongst others. Cliff was unusual in that he was an openly gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
man in a profession that, at the time, was strongly homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
.
In 1985, Cliff semi-retired from tattooing and moved to 29 Palms
Twentynine Palms, California
Twentynine Palms is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It was previously called Twenty-Nine Palms...
, California. There he wrote editorial cartoons for the High Desert Star and ran a used/rare bookstore, Raven's Books, until his death in 2001. While retired, he infrequently continued to tattoo a select group of long-term clients who sought him out although he was largely withdrawn from the world of tattooing.
His legacy lives on at The Chicago Tattoo Co., 1017 w. Belmont Avenue in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, one block west of the original location.