The Sydney tattoo convention recently took place at the city’s historic town hall, drawing 5,000 visitors. The event, which featured 180 approved artists from approximately 700 applicants, included competitions, seminars, documentaries, and talks.
Katie Bailey, founder of the convention and managing director of Thirteen Feet Tattoo studios, stated that securing the 137-year-old venue was initially challenging. However, after the first event four years ago, the Sydney council found it “amazing.”
Co-organiser Rhys Gordon noted that the convention serves as a platform to legitimise tattooing, which is becoming more mainstream. The event aims to make the world of tattooing more accessible, with some attendees getting their first tattoo.
Competitions were held at the end of each day, with winners including William for tattoo of the day, Laura for best collaboration, and Shell for best back piece. The convention also featured a performance by Lucky Diamond Rich, described as the world’s most tattooed man.