Old School Traditional Tattoo Convention
About Tattoo Expo
Traditional Tattooing
On October 17-18-19-20, 2024, the SHERATON NORFOLK WATERSIDE HOTEL in NORFOLK, VA, will host the first NORFOLK TATTOO EXPO, bringing together some of the country's most renowned tattoo artists. Many artists who will be tattooing there are from a time when a tattoo convention was a significant event for tattoo people worldwide. It was a time when becoming a tattoo artist was earned, when tattoo history, secrets, and skills were passed down from mentor to apprentice.
The Norfolk Tattoo Expo
The artists at the NORFOLK TATTOO EXPO are coming to tattoo, so make your plans, put together your ideas, and get yourself to Norfolk, Va., for this historic event. Many of these tattoo artists have already earned their stripes in the tattoo industry. They are the people that have blazed the trail for the tattoo community today. They come from an era of heroes and respect. It was a time when people were serious about the tattoo business, and a tattoo convention was just that, a tattoo convention.
The Tattoo Heroes
These are tattoo artists who have been walking in the same footsteps as other tattoo greats like Sailor Jerry, Paul Rogers, Mike Malone, Bob Shaw, Cliff Raven, Dave Shore, Zeke Owen, Bob Roberts, Don Nolan, Lyle Tuttle, and others, they are tattooing with skills and knowledge passed down to them for generations from tattoo artists that they have looked up to. They do tattoos in color, black and grey, fine lines, or bold lines. They are coming to the NORFOLK TATTOO EXPO to tattoo eagles, panthers, roses, dragons, and many other tattoo designs that have sustained this industry since Lou "The Jew" Alberts designed the first commercial flash sheets over 120 years ago.
The Tattoo Artists
There is no need to call them "Old School or Traditional." They already have names, and their names have helped to shape the tattoo industry, names like Jack Rudy, Paul Booth, Good Time Charlie, Shahn Anderson, Mike Perfetto, Eric Desmond, Tony Riccio, Corey Miller, Brian Bruno, Jason Hobbie, Richie Montgomery, Matt Nelson, Scott Sterling, Joey Knuckles, Dana and Dot Brunson, Annette LaRue, Eric Inksmith, Ken and Michelle Cameron, Doug Hardy, Kylie Greene, Peteski, Andrew Connor, and many more solid, no-nonsense, tattoo artists. These are just some of the tattoo artists who will be tattooing at this history-making event.
The Turn of the Century
The turn of the century has brought drastic changes to the tattoo trade; there are only a few heroes left, respect has been lost for most, tattoo conventions have become a circus of sideshows, and some in the business are only concerned about the number of trophies they can stack up, or how bright a spotlight they can shine on themselves. They have no stories to tell; they can't speak of Bill Jones, Percy Waters, or Leo Zulueta. They think that Ed Hardy is a T-shirt vendor. What they can do instead is show you how many "likes" they can get or how many people follow them; they can tell you about NTFs, Bitcoin, and DoorDash, but nothing about coil wraps, making needle bars, mixing raw pigments or cutting acetate stencils. As a result, they aren't much interested in the foundation laid by tattoo artists over the past century that has made the industry grow.
Priceless Opportunity
An opportunity to attend a tattoo convention like this one coming to Norfolk, VA, may never happen again. It is a chance to go and hang out with tattoo artists who have dedicated themselves to preserving our past and assuring the tattoo world of the future. Show up to Norfolk, VA, from October 17th through the 20th, 2024, and see what the tattoo convention scene was like during the latter half of the last century. You will meet and hang out with industry legends. You will toast the days gone by and hear the stories of those who lived through those times. You may even become part of history, as this tattoo convention will be one for the record books. It might cost you a beer or two, but the opportunity is priceless.
The Tattoo Artists
@shawndbarber @memoirtattoo
@coreymillertattoo @sixfeetundertattooparlor
@j_rudy_gtc @tattooland
@danabrunson
@designs_by_Michael_angelo
@shahnanderson @dragonlandtattoo
Event Times & Ticket Prices
Event Times
Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices
Tickets are being sold at the door only.