Tattoo you?

Winnipeg

Downtown

St. James

Calling all tattoo and body art enthusiasts — artists across Canada are coming back to display several unique exhibitions of tattoos, makeup, hairstyles, and dance once again.

The Winnipeg Tattoo Show is set to go at the RBC Convention Centre from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, featuring 300 tattoo artists, 40 shopping vendors, 10 piercers and plenty of other activities all weekend.

“Every year it gets bigger, it’s exciting, and there’s something for everyone,” said Abby Boivin, founder and organizer of the convention alongside her husband Jeff, under the name J&A Enterprises.

Boivin’s worked in the tattoo industry for 25 years and owns the local tattoo shop Living Canvas Tattoo — which has three of its tattoo artists participating in the convention this year.

“It’s not just a showcase, and people get tattooed right there,” Boivin said. “There’s so much, you don’t even have to have a tattoo, it’s cool just to walk around and see all the art and see that it’s possible to put that onto a person.”

The convention will offer opportunities to get tattooed or pierced on the spot by artists, who will be either offering appointments or accepting walk-up business throughout the convention. If the spontaneity of an immediate tattoo isn’t your style, the convention stage will always have something going on, Boivin added.

Some other highlights of the convention are the Fantasy Hair and Makeup Competition, performances by local juggler Sarah Teakle and magician Brett Hogan, as well as a Harley-Davidson fashion show.

The show is open to all ages and features a kids’ corner, with artist competitions, face painting, and temporary tattoos.

The convention draws international attention, with artists visiting from Spain and Colombia, as well as talents featured on the TV show Ink Master and America’s Got Talent.

“We’re known across the world,” said Boivin. “(There’s) friendly Winnipeg vibes and Winnipeg’s the central hub of Canada. There are artists coming from the West Coast, East Coast, and south in the U.S.”

“The tattoo community in Winnipeg is great,” said Felix Chen, tattoo artist and owner of G.O.A.T Ink Studio. “Artists come here because they know Winnipeg is good.”

Chen moved to Winnipeg from China in 2010 and opened his studio in 2019. He’s participated in tattoo conventions across Canada ever since.

“The best way to enjoy the convention is by meeting new people and trying new things,” said Chen, who specializes in black and white realism. He says the convention is the place he loves to try everything and get out of his comfort zone.

“It’s a great place for new artists to meet lots of people, show off their work, and start to build a clientele,” said Chen.

Chen, along with seven other artists from G.O.A.T. Ink Studio, will be accepting walk-up appointments all weekend. He says he can normally tattoo about 20 people at a three-day convention.

The convention runs Friday from 1 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.