In "Untitled" (2010), the artist embellishes an old Mexican magazine image of a woman by decorating the model's figure with black tattoos. The work brings traditional feminine beauty into juxtaposition with an edgy, modern aesthetic. It is a strong example of the artist's highly stylized transformation of found objects.

Dr. Lakra (b. 1972) is a contemporary Mexican artist and tattooist. 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 often start as sketches for his tattoos. Drawing on various sources of iconography, the artist focuses on the juxtaposition of new and old. Other frequent themes include vulgarity, religion, evil, repression, sex, and violence. The turning point in Dr. Lakra’s career was meeting fellow tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy (American, b. 1945). Hardy advocated for Dr. Lakra, exhibiting his work at “Pierced Hearts and True Love,” an exhibition which he organized with the Drawing Center in 1995. The show was Ramirez’s New York gallery debut. Around this time, Dr. Lakra returned to Mexico City to open his tattoo shop, as well as show at the artist’s space La Panaderia. It was there that he met his dealer, Jose Kuri, who brought him to the Kurimanzutto Gallery and encouraged him to expand into mural painting. In 2010 the artist had his first United States solo show at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA, where he exhibited several series of drawings as well as his second site-specific mural. Dr. Lakra’s work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN; and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA. He lives and works in Oaxaca, Mexico.