Attending a tattoo convention can be a great way to reinvigorate your work as a tattoo artist, and give tattoo lovers great insight into the world of tattooing. This is why going to a convention made specifically for tattoo artists and lovers of the tattoo subculture is an absolute must for those who are invested in the art form. Attending a convention can bring you up to date to the latest trends and the newest technology coming into the field, not to mention the great environment and camaraderie of like-minded individuals.
Ft. Myers, Fl - March 3rd - 5th @Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Longview, TX - August 12th - 14th @ Maude Cobb Event Center, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview, TX 75604
Oklahoma City, OK - October 9th - 11th @ Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd., Shawnee, OK 74804
The Ink Life tour is back again, providing its attendees with a varied mix of entertainment and education. Ink Life brings in artists from well-known local shops, such as Prodigal Son Tattoo, Lighter Side Tattoo, and Aces High Tattoo for the Florida event, and is also known for bringing in well-known musical acts. Musical guests such as Suicidal Tendencies, Crowbar, Havok, and Matisyahu, will be performing this year.
March 17th-19th
Lane Events Center
Eugene, OR
With the Pacific Northwest becoming a hotbed of transplants, thanks to counterculture Mecca's like Portland and Seattle, it shouldn't be a surprise that there would be a convention in the area. Evergreen Tattoo Invitational is a primarily education-based tattoo show with extensive seminars to help you become better at your craft and give you more theory for your tattooing knowledge. This includes artists like James Wosgreau teaching out dynamic black and gray work, Patrick Flynn for color work, and James Kern providing instruction on how to tattoo what seems like impossible artwork.
United Ink No Limits Tattoo Expo
March 31st - April 2nd
Resorts World Casino NYC
110-00 Rockaway Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11420
Bringing together over 250 tattoo artists and over two dozen vendors and tattoo suppliers from all over the wonderful Big Apple is the No Limits Tattoo Expo. With artists such as Popo, Sam Barber, Poch, Adam Perj, Damien Wickham, and many more coming to the expo. You can expect to see seminars from World Famous Pro Team artists such as Jay Freestyle's "Fundamentals of Tattoo Design" and an open forum with Poch.
June 9th - 11th
Metro Toronto Convention Centre - SOUTH Building
222 Bremner Blvd Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada
This particular expo is on its 19th year, and is one of the largest tattoo conventions within Canada. There will be a wide variety of seminars in portrait and realism work by Andrea Afferni, black and gray ink work by legends Jose Perez, Jr., and Bob Tyrell, as well as a health education seminar. This midsummer tattoo convention is getting all kinds of additions to its event line-up constantly, so you will be sure to see a large number of entertainment events and see dozens of vendors booths within the convention center.
Arizona Hell City Tattoo Convention
August 25th-27th
Arizona Biltmore Resort & SPA
2400 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85016
The Hell City Tattoo Convention has over two hundred artists, vendors, industry experts, and painters coming together within the beautiful Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Educational seminars from greats like James Kern and Ian McKown, live entertainment, and all different kinds of experts to answer any questions that you may need.
Villain Arts is a convention cycle that sponsors a variety of tattoo conventions in large cities across the United States all year. While the different cities will host various seminars with a variety of artists, and different guests will be at each location, you can be sure to catch touring acts Olde City Sideshow, Marlo Marquise, and live suspension shows at each stop. With the first two conventions already passed, here is a list of the cities and dates that the well-known conventions will be at.
Chicago - March 17th-19th @ Donald E. Stephens Center
Baltimore - April 7th-9th @ Baltimore Convention Center
Louisville - April 28th-30th @ Kentucky Expo Center
Kansas City - May 19th - 21st @ Sheraton at Crown Center
Wildwood - August 11th-13th @ Wildwoods Convention Center
Mliwaukee - September 15th - 17th @ Wisconsin Convention Center
Tampa - October 6th-8th @ Tampa Convention Center
May 27th-28th
Alexandra Palace
London, United Kingdom
For those of you in Europe, there's plenty of conventions for you to go to this year. Most notably is The Great British Tattoo Show. With hundreds of attendees gathering, there will be vendors such as Big Dog Tattoo Furniture, Stay Close Clothing, and Good Ink there to sell supplies and meet their clientele. Seminars will also be given, with great artists such as Milly Macis, Charlie Manger, and Antonio Conigio making appearances to show off their amazing skills. You can also look forward to entertainment throughout, such as a food and craft beer festival, and the AltFest fashion show looking to spread diversification and the stopping of hate.