{"id":600188812,"date":"2026-04-29T02:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/our-communities\/uncategorized\/2026\/04\/29\/tattoo-you"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:17:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:17:13","slug":"tattoo-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/our-communities\/east\/2026\/04\/29\/tattoo-you","title":{"rendered":"Tattoo you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calling all tattoo and body art enthusiasts \u2014 artists across Canada are coming back to display several unique exhibitions of tattoos, makeup, hairstyles, and dance once again.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year it gets bigger, it\u2019s exciting, and there\u2019s something for everyone,\u201d said Abby Boivin, founder and organizer of the convention alongside her husband Jeff, under the name J&A Enterprises.<\/p>\n

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Supplied photo by Lou Anderson<\/p>\n

The RBC Convention Centre was filled with people at the 2025 Winnipeg Tattoo Show.<\/p><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n

Boivin\u2019s worked in the tattoo industry for 25 years and owns the local tattoo shop Living Canvas Tattoo \u2014 which has three of its tattoo artists participating in the convention this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just a showcase, and people get tattooed right there,\u201d Boivin said. \u201cThere\u2019s so much, you don\u2019t even have to have a tattoo, it\u2019s cool just to walk around and see all the art and see that it\u2019s possible to put that onto a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019t your style, the convention stage will always have something going on, Boivin added.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The show is open to all ages and features a kids\u2019 corner, with artist competitions, face painting, and temporary tattoos.<\/p>\n

The convention draws international attention, with artists visiting from Spain and Colombia, as well as talents featured on the TV show Ink Master<\/em> and America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re known across the world,\u201d said Boivin. \u201c(There\u2019s) friendly Winnipeg vibes and Winnipeg\u2019s the central hub of Canada. There are artists coming from the West Coast, East Coast, and south in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tattoo community in Winnipeg is great,\u201d said Felix Chen, tattoo artist and owner of G.O.A.T Ink Studio. \u201cArtists come here because they know Winnipeg is good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Supplied photo by Lou Anderson<\/p>\n

An artist using a machine to tattoo a person during the 2025 Winnipeg Tattoo Show.<\/p><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n

Chen moved to Winnipeg from China in 2010 and opened his studio in 2019. He\u2019s participated in tattoo conventions across Canada ever since.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way to enjoy the convention is by meeting new people and trying new things,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great place for new artists to meet lots of people, show off their work, and start to build a clientele,\u201d said Chen.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>

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