World Famous, star-studded, traveling Tattoo Convention, Villain Arts, is coming to Baltimore!

The 11^th Annual Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention is happening this Friday May 4 (2 p.m. – 12 a.m.), Saturday May 5 (11 a.m. – 12 a.m.) and Sunday May 6 (11 a.m. – 8 p.m.) at the Baltimore Convention Center (1 W Pratt Street Baltimore).

This exhibition boasts hundreds of the finest professional tattooers, tattoo memorabilia and curiosity themed carnival of sideshow performers.

The sprawling exhibition has made over two decades of annual appearances nationwide, and in other major US cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Kansas City, to name a few. Among hundreds of internationally renowned tattoo artists are also unique vendors, peddling rare and unusual merch for subculture enthusiasts and tattoo art collectors.

The Villain Arts Conventions traditionally include a number of appearances by celebrities from movies and reality-TV tattoo competitions, like Ink Master, Best Ink and Tattoo Nightmares. Visiting artist seminars for professionals in the tattoo industry are also a feature at the shows, and include topics on social media/marketing, technical tattoo application techniques for working artists, and Q & A’s with longtime tattooers and legends in the business.

Since founding the Villain Arts organization, Troy “Tattooed Kingpin” Timpel, has grown the original Philadelphia Tattoo Convention, organized twenty years ago by tattoo legend Crazy Philadelphia Eddie, into a fifteen city and growing national tattoo tour known for drawing upwards of thirty thousand attendees over the three day weekend of tattoo contests, performance art, live painting and events that showcase the creators and contemporary artists that work in body modification trades including tattooing and traditional tattoo flash painting, piercing, extreme body modification and suspension, unique vendors and fine art.

Tickets are $20 a day or $40 for a 3-day pass. Children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at https://www.eventsprout.com/event/baltimore-tattoo-arts-convention.

For more information on this event, please visit http://villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/baltimore-tattoo-arts-convention/.

Come check out the best tattoo artists and canvases this weekend!

Tess Abney

Tess Abney is a freelance writer who was born and raised in the Quad Cities. She spends most of her time attempting to successfully raise three boys. In her free time, writing is her passion. Whether it is sharing local events and businesses with readers or sharing her thoughts on life, she finds comfort in the way words can bring people together.