The Kamloops Tattoo Show is returning to Kamloops from June 12 to 14. In just its second year, it is already growing in all the best ways.

Organizer Julian Greenman said this year’s show is expected to feature between 180 and 200 tattoo artists, up from last year’s debut event, which brought in roughly 140 artists. That’s considerable growth in just one year, and the excitement is even bigger!

Artists are travelling in from across Western Canada and beyond. A large number are coming from Alberta, with others making the trip from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and even Quebec. The show will also have a strong lineup of local artists, giving attendees the chance to connect with both familiar names and new talent all in one place.

For Greenman, the show started as a simple idea that began with a heart for community and a shared love of the art. He credits co-organizer Amy Easton, owner of Jugger Bean in Sun Peaks, as the one who really got the ball rolling.

“It was my partner in crime, Amy Easton,” he said. “Her desire and me being a good friend, tagging along.”

That partnership works, he said, because they balance each other out. Easton tends to dream big while Greenman brings a more grounded perspective. Together, they have built something that reflects both.

So why a tattoo show? At its core, the show is about creating space for artists and the people who love their work.

“We both love tattoos. We love going to conventions,” Greenman said. “So it would be just cool to have one here. To do something for the community.”

For those who have never stepped foot into a tattoo convention, the experience is part art show, part marketplace, and part live studio. Booths line the floor, each one home to an individual artist, a group, or an entire tattoo shop. Artwork ranges from prints and flash sheets to stacks of stickers, which Greenman pointed out are a staple of tattoo shows.

Throughout the weekend, artists will be tattooing live. Some artists book ahead, often working on large competition pieces, while others come ready for walk-ups and flash pieces. For attendees, that means the option to plan ahead or simply wander the floor and find your piece in the moment. The best plan is to check out the artist roster and ask your favourites directly.

The show also features tattoo competitions, with artists judged on pieces completed during the event. Categories are broken down by size and style, with a panel reviewing execution, creativity, and overall impact before handing out awards.

Conventions give people the chance to see work up close from artists they may follow on socials and meet the artists behind it, as well as find artists they may not have found otherwise.

Putting the show together has been a year-round effort. With artists, vendors, entertainment, and all the logistics of putting together a large community event, this event focuses on connection as well as art and the community surrounding it.

New this year, the show will also feature an art auction fundraiser in support of Foundry Kamloops, a free and confidential support organization for youth and their families. One more way to bring connection to the whole event. 

Those looking to support the show have a few options. Organizers are still welcoming sponsors, volunteers, and artists willing to contribute pieces to the auction. For most, though, the easiest way to support is simply to attend, explore the space, and help build the kind of turnout that keeps events like this growing year after year.

At the end of the day, Greenman said the goal is simple: create something that brings people together. And maybe get a cool new tattoo.