Mario Desa
Mario’s lifelong obsession with iconography, esoteric symbolism, and pragmatic art and design, as well as a childhood steeped in graffiti, skateboarding, punk rock, hip-hop, and inner-city life, lead him to tattooing. Getting his start in 1997, Mario’s primary focus in the craft is a traditional approach inspired by classic tattoo flash, Americana, and folk art. Mario is available for appointments and walk-ins on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and walk-ins only on Saturdays.
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Black & Gray Skull, Rose, & Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa
Red Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Mario Desa
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Skull & Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Winged Dragon
Mario Desa // GLT
Sword & Snake
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Butterfly-winged Lady Head
Mario Desa // GLT
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Valkyrie & Butterfly Back Piece
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Ladyhead and Rose
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Hand of Glory
Mario Desa
Traditional Snake with Chicago Cards
Mario Desa
Traditional Skull & Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Clipper Ship vs. Kraken
Mario Desa // GLT
Horseshoe & Rose
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Coleman Dragon
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa
Traditional Virgen de Guadelupe / Virgin Mary
Mario Desa
Grimm Tiger Head
Mario Desa
Traditional Mom Heart
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Rose vs. Cobra
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Tiger Battle Royale
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Dragon & Flower
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Snake & Skull
Mario Desa // GLT
Reaper, Skull, and Rose
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa
Traditional Dragon
Mario Desa
Red Eyed Traditional Butterfly
Mario Desa // GLT
Butterfly Scorpion
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Dagger, Rose, & Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Rose on Hand
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Burning Candle Butterfly
Mario Desa // GLT
Higgs’ Club Design
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Fish
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Tiger vs. Snake
Mario Desa
Dagger through Dragon Head
Mario Desa
Traditional Sacred Heart with Snake & Cross
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa
Traditional Tiger Head
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Bleeding Christ Head
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Hannya Dragon Head
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional scimitar & Snake
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Scorpion-Butterfly
Mario Desa// GLT
Chicagorilla
Mario Desa
Traditional Eagle & Rose
Mario Desa
Traditional Heart & Mom Banner
Mario Desa// GLT
Traditional Rose & Dagger
Mario Desa
Traditional Ladyhead with Rose in Hair
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Sailor Jerry Hannya Design
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Fresh Skull & Snake, Healed Traditional Sleeves
Mario Desa
Traditional Pinup
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Black & Gray Jesus Wrapped in Thorns
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Eagle, Skull, and Snake Back Piece
Mario Desa
Traditional Bleeding Cross
Mario Desa
Bright & Bold Knee Mandala
Mario Desa // GLT
Black & Gray Hot Stuff
Mario Desa // GLT
Gorilla Head
Mario Desa
Traditional Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Skull Roses
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Rose with Panther Head
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Skull Spider Dripping Blood
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Horseshoe with Folk Bird
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Heart, Skull, and Snake
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Crybaby Kewpie vs. Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Tiger with Rose
Mario Desa
Traditional Girlhead Morphing into the Creature from the Black Lagoon
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Black & Gray Snake and Dagger
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Panther Head in Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Nurse Ladyhead with Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Pinup with Snake and Rose
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Ladyhead with Cobra Hair
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Roses with Name Banners
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Floral Mandala
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Golden Rose and Horseshoe
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Bert Grimm-inspired Tiger
Mario Desa // GLT
Abstract Traditional Dagger
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Abstract Traditional Skull Dripping Blood
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Flaming Torch with Snake
Mario Desa
Traditional Pharaoh’s Horses
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Panther Head with Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Dice Snake
Mario Desa // GLT
Chicagorilla
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Mario Desa // Great Lakes Tattoo - Chicago, IL
Traditional Rose
Mario Desa
Traditional Skeleton Hand Holding Melting Candle
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Parrot
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Hot Stuff
Mario Desa
Traditional Lighthouse with Rose
Mario Desa // GLT
Traditional Skeleton Hand Holding Rose