Dr. Lakra  (Mexican, 1972) 

Dr. Lakra (Mexican, b.1972) is an artist and tattooist living and working in Oaxaca, Mexico. Born Jerónimo López Ramírez, he renamed himself Dr. Lacra (or, Dr. Scar) in reference to the medical briefcase in which he carries his equipment, and recognition of his manipulation of found imagery and objects. He also creates collages and drawings, which started as sketches for his tattoos. Using various sources of iconography to depict a wide variety of content, the artist focuses on the juxtaposition of new and old. Other themes include vulgarity, religion, evil, repression, sex, and violence. The turning point in his career was meeting fellow tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy (American, b.1945). Hardy advocated for Lakris, exhibiting his work at Pierced Hearts and True Love, which he organized with the Drawing Center in 1995. The show was Ramierz’s New York gallery debut. Around this time, Dr. Lakra had returned to Mexico City to open his tattoo shop, as well as show with the artist’s space La Panaderia. It was here that he met his dealer, Mr. Kuri, who brought him to kurimanzutto gallery and suggested he work larger scale. The result was Lakra’s now-widely celebrated murals. In 2010 the artist had his first United States solo show at the ICA, Boston. He exhibited several series of drawings, as well as his second site-specific mural. Dr. Lakra has works in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center, and the Hammer Museum. He is represented by kurimanzutto, New Mexico, and Kate MacGarry, London.