A style of tattooing called "black and gray realism" has its roots in East Los Angeles' Chicano culture. It moved from penal institutions, to the barrios, to high-end tattoo shops around the world.

A popular style of tattooing called "black and gray realism" has its roots in East LA's Chicano culture. It moved from California prisons in the 1970s to high-end tattoo shops worldwide.

His work, along with other examples of the black-and-gray style, is on view at the Natural History Museum as part of the traveling “Tattoo” exhibition that opened Sunday.

A popular style of tattooing called "black and gray realism" has its roots in East LA's Chicano culture. It moved from California prisons in the 1970s to high-end tattoo shops worldwide.

The tattoos—now called “black-and-gray” in the industry—had a level of detail and realism not found anywhere else in the tattooing world at the time.

Female mummies have been found to have markings on their thighs, abdomen and breasts. ... He is a black-and-gray realism tattoo artist, originally from Los Angeles.

Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Eric Marcinizyn is a rising star in black and gray tattoo. Tattooing for just three and a half years, he mixes West Coast styles with East Coast reference point.

The author has, however, covered many tattoos on her left arm, including a gray-and-black rose design. Kat Von D attends a Marijuana Policy Project event on May 14, 2007. Paul Redmond/Getty Images ...

A popular style of tattooing called "black and gray realism" has its roots in East LA's Chicano culture. It moved from California prisons in the 1970s to high-end tattoo shops worldwide.