Vilnius, Lithuania. According to a Pew Research Center survey, done in 2023, about 32% of U.S. adults have a tattoo, and it’s estimated that roughly 21% of the global population has at least one tattoo. Reflecting changing attitudes toward body art, similar trends are visible in Lithuania.
On September 14th, over 100 people celebrated their love for the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, in a distinctive way at the “Ink Your Love” event. It featured 18 pre-designed tattoos capturing the main symbols of Vilnius’ identity. The designs include a heart-shaped Vilnius hot air balloon, a symbol the city is well known for, and Lithuania’s prized possession – the cold pink beetroot soup.
Other designs featured the bearded Gediminas Tower, representing both the “As Young as Vilnius” festival and the city’s recent 701 birthday, and the legendary Iron Wolf, symbolizing Vilnius’s strong spirit. There were also playful images, such as Vilnius beets, a vibrant vegetable quickly becoming a local favorite, and the city’s old-fashioned trolleybuses. Additional designs included the Vilnius TV Tower, a prominent building in Vilnius’ landscape and history, the Angel of Užupis, a symbol of the city’s artistic district, and many more creative and fun representations.
According to the organizers, the most popular designs were a wolf on a skateboard, a trolleybus, a cat sculpture that was unveiled in memory of the famous Lithuanian writer Jurga Ivanauskaitė, and Gediminas’ Tower with a flying saucer. Some attendees even chose to get multiple designs.
These designs were offered by seven local tattoo studios, among them Angis Tattoo, Besarmatė Studio, Visų Šventų Tattoo, DonTattoo, Gakami Tattoo, Fokus Pokus Tattoo Art Shop, and Iron Oak Tattoo. DonTattoo artist Domantas Don recently completed a tattoo of the TV tower on the tower itself at 165 meters in the sky.
Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, the head of Go Vilnius, noted that this event united both tattoo enthusiasts and Vilnius fans. “A tattoo is an ever-lasting commitment. Its permanence helps create a lasting connection with the place we cherish,” said Aleksandravičienė.
Tattoos have become a powerful way for people to express themselves, reflecting important aspects of modern life. The “Ink Your Love” event captures the spirit and heritage of Vilnius by honoring the city’s past and deepening the community’s bond with its history. With young Lithuanians ranking very highly on the World Happiness Index, “Ink Your Love” is a creative way to show belonging to the city’s youthful community.
To show belonging and love to the city was the reason why Vilnius resident Nikita Gladčenko wanted to ink city symbols. “Tomorrow I am celebrating my birthday, so I thought I would give myself such a gift. Even though I have traveled quite a lot, Vilnius is my favorite city in the world, so I want to honor that and keep a part of it with me for the rest of my life. This tattoo will become a symbol of love for the capital, reminding me that I don’t want to leave it, and if I do, I’ll always be back,” says Gladčenko.
Ugnius Ragauskas wanted his tattoo to have a wider historical meaning. “I’m a Vilnius resident, so it wasn’t hard to decide what to get tattooed. When a friend suggested I sign up for the event, I saw the designs, and I liked the one depicting King Mindaugas the most. While this historical figure isn’t solely associated with Vilnius, I’ll be able to explain that this tattoo symbolizes for me both Lithuania, Vilnius, and the former Lithuanian kingdom,” notes Ragauskas.
Not only Lithuanians decided to get tattoos with Vilnius symbols, but also foreigners living in the capital. One of them is Giovanni Rocha, originally from Ecuador. “I really enjoy living in Vilnius. I got married here, and together with my wife, we’re raising our son. However, this tattoo was also inspired by a few personal details. Many years ago, I visited a shaman in the Amazon jungle. He told me that I carry an animal spirit within me – a white wolf, and in the future, I would live in a great country. According to him, the symbol of that country would be the animal inside me. Only after moving to Vilnius did I discover that the city’s symbol was the Iron Wolf. For this reason, I decided to get this tattoo to honor the city where I live and to keep a piece of Vilnius with me for life,” says Rocha.
Organized by the tourism and business development agency Go Vilnius, the event encouraged both residents and visitors to become city ambassadors by tattooing symbols of Vilnius on their skin. Carrying a piece of Vilnius is not just about showcasing famous landmarks but about embracing unique symbols and personal connections that resonate on a deeper level.
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