Renowned color-portrait tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado and black-and-gray surrealism specialist Carlos Torres are back to hosting this year’s Golden State Tattoo Expo, at the Pasadena Convention Center starting Friday, Sept 16 through Sunday.
Presented by Inked Magazine, the 2022 Golden State Tattoo Expo brings the world’s best tattoo artists together in one place. Expo visitors can decide to get tattooed, shop for original art, jewelry and fashion, take seminars, see live performances, watch burlesque, take part in tattoo contests, meet ink masters, and shop for the newest in tattoo innovations.
Unlike last year, masks are no longer required for individuals, regardless of vaccination status, although the Pasadena Convention Center still recommends keeping your mask readily available.
“There are no restrictions this year,” Marco Ceritelli, Golden State Tattoo Expo organizer, said. “It’s up to the attendees if they want to wear masks if they feel comfortable, but there are no restrictions at the Convention Center.”
Among the special guests listed on the event website are Pony Lawson, co-founder of Mayday Tattoo Co., founder of Mayday Tattoo Supply, and creator of the Tattoo Stencil and Tattoo Palette apps; Stefano Alcantara, who started his first shop in Lima, Peru in 1999, holds a degree from the Peruvian Institute of advertising in Graphic design, and now spends most of his time at his own shop in New York; and Michael Hussar, who among other things had an unexpected collaboration with rapper Sadistik and did the art on the cover of the musician’s latest album, Altars, released by Equal Vision Records in April 2017.
The artist list is full of other famous tattoo artists and their teams.
“Every venue that we’ve been at said that the artists and the people were some of the nicest people that they’ve ever met,” Ceritelli said. “And just to show that the tattoo community is full of great people and that tattoos are more than just I don’t know how you say, they’re more art than anything else these days.”
On Friday, Sept. 16, show times are 4 p.m. to 12 midnight, 12 noon to midnight on Saturday, and 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, the organizer said.
Shops exhibiting at the event include Hustlers Parlor, Vatican Studio, StarBrite Colors and Tommy’s Supplies.
For a list of the artists and shops exhibiting at the Expo, visit www.goldenstatetattooexpo.com/copy-of-artists.
For more information, email goldenstatetattooexpo@gmail.com.
