Abstract

Lars Krutak (PhD) is an American anthropologist, photographer, curator, and writer known for his research about Indigenous tattoo and its cultural background. He hosted and produced the 10-part documentary series Tattoo Hunter on the Discovery Channel and is a Research Associate at the Museum of International Folk Art (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA).

Krutak is the author of more than 90 articles for scientific journals and popular magazines on the subject of tattooing. His books include (2014) Tattoo Traditions of Native North America, (2012) Magical Tattoos and Scarification, (2010) Kalinga Tattoo focusing on Indigenous tattooing culture in the northern Philippines, and (2007) The Tattooing Arts of Tribal Women. Krutak also served as the senior editor for (2018) Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing, the first book
dedicated to the archaeological study of tattooing.

Krutak has conducted tattoo research with 50+ Indigenous societies in 25 countries. His photography has appeared in exhibitions at the Weltkulturen Museum (Frankfurt), Museum of Modern Art (New York City), Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow), Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (Paris), Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto), among other institutions.