Conventions – Scene360 (2025)

It has been a few years since our last visit to the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Pasadena, California. The event is larger than ever, with more tattooers, and it was already regarded as one of the biggest on the West Coast. The returning artists include Freddy Negrete, Big Sleeps, Pony Lawson, Poch, and presenters […]

Seattle Tattoo Expo began approximately 23 years ago. Over 200 tattoo artists participated this year on August 16, 17, and 18. Upon entering the downtown area’s Center Exhibition Hall, one is struck by the enormity of the event, which is presently organized and professionally executed by Connors & Company Events, Inc. Hidden Hand Tattoo was […]

When much of California experiences heat waves in July, visiting the Ventura County Fairgrounds, which has a microclimate with temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celcius), is excellent. We can breathe and enjoy a three-day convention there. The organizer, Christina Diaz (who also manages Evolved Tattoos and Fine Art) and her key sponsors Working Class […]

Any event on the weekend of April 19 to 21, 2024, will inevitably be impacted by Germany’s “Gods of Ink” mega convention. However, we find ourselves in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, a national treasure known for its snow-covered mountain peaks and emerald-hued water. The mere presence of tattoo artists nearby enhances the allure of the voyage. […]

Tattoo enthusiasts must visitTriangle Tattoo & Museumin Fort Bragg on the Mendocino County coast of California. Madame Chinchilla and Mr G, tattoo artists, industry historians, and life partners, founded this space in 1986. Both had trained under Bert Rodriguez, a Mexican-American tattoo artist who started a Santa Rosa studio in 1978 and the Tattoos & […]

The first-ever Ventura County Fair was held in 1874 at the conclusion of the local San Miguel Days agricultural festival; 149 years later, Christina Diaz organized the 5th Seaside Tattoo Show at the Fairgrounds in a Quonset hut named San Miguel. The Pacific Ocean is so close to this venue that it can be heard […]

In the second year ofthe Capitol City Classic Convention, held on May 19 to 21, the event hosted by Sacramento’sRoyal Peacock Tattoo Parlorattempted to improve by avoiding the Mother’s Day weekend and moving the convention a week later, as well as bringing in talents such as Tin-Tin, Eddy Deutsche, Tutti Serra, Fibs and others who […]

The master photographerDianne Mansfield’s “Eye of the Beholder” has been released in hardback format byRaking Light Projects. Mansfield has documented the tattoo community for over four decadesin a raw and compelling manner, capturing the reality of a tattooer’s life and work. From photos of Pacific Islanders to images taken at major conventions, it is clear […]

Inspired by the work of Renaissance and Art Nouveau painters, German tattooist Adriaan Machete is renowned worldwide for his delicate and exquisitely colored body art. His professional tattoo career began around 2007 after he apprenticed with Iban Maya. His major break came in 2010 when he was invited to be a guest artist in various […]

After the last year and a half without tattoo events, it was a breath of fresh air to be attending one, especially in California. Held on May 7 – 9, 2021, atFeather Falls Casino in Oroville, north of Sacramento, the expo was packed with spectators in the banquet hall—giving the impression that tattoo demand will […]