We're Counting Down to Expo Day!
About Tattoo Collectors Expo
Who
200 world-class tattoo artists gather in DFW to network, talk shop, and get work done by some of their tattoo icons!
When
Friday, March 27 – Sunday, March 29, 2020
With events every day from 10am until around 11pm!
Where
Esports Stadium Arlington & Expo Center
1200 Ballpark Way
Arlington, TX 76011
Mission Statement
A Memorable Experience for All
The Tattoo Collectors Expo has the goal to deliver a fun productive environment that will keep artists and collectors alike coming back year after year. We want to provide a convention that allows the artists to enjoy their weekend in all aspects including financial gain, networking with other artists/vendors, and getting to see what our area has to offer the rest of the industry. The inspiration behind it all is to genuinely make it a pleasurable experience for anyone working or attending the event. There are many tattoo conventions around the world and we want to make this expo a memorable one for you.
Vision Statement
Bringing the Tattoo Industry Together
The Tattoo Collectors Expo is an event by artists for artists. We know you've heard that before and have seen many times that isn't the case. We are committed to giving quality service before, during, and after the expo. We are taking our job of providing top attendance very seriously. Our main goal is to make sure there are attendees there for each artist to make a profit. We will have 200 booths and over 200 world class tattoo artists. This is your chance to book appointments with your favorite tattoo artists. This expo will bring the tattoo industry together as you've never seen before. We want to uplift and inspire growth to the industry as a whole.
Meet the Team
I began my journey while I was in the United States Marine Corps (2005 - 2009); where I started dabbling in photography (2008). After completing my contract in 2009 I moved to Dallas, TX. Photography ended up being the gateway into the tattoo industry for me and in 2013 is when I started to realize that. I began hanging out at multiple tattoo shops and met some great individuals along the way. After some very positive influences in 2014 I was convinced to follow through with an idea I came up with; Miss Texas Inked which is a tattooed beauty pageant.
I am now in the 5th year of what we now call Miss World Inked that allows tattooed women from all over the world to compete. I also co-own Worldwide Ink Magazine and we are growing quickly. The magazine had been an idea since 2014 but due to certain circumstances I had to hold off. February 2018 was when my self and Alonzo Gonzales decided to follow through with the idea and couldn't be more happy with it. Worldwide Ink Magazine currently has 11 ProTeam Tattoo Artists, 16 Staff Photographers all around the world, 22 Promo Models, and 11 released issues.
I have now decided to up the stakes and go all in on The Tattoo Collectors Expo with 2 amazing business partners; who I consider family. Family is the most important thing in my life and being able to call Alonzo and Samantha family is everything to me. We are putting our brain power together to bring you one hell of a show! Everything I have done in my life since the day of my daughters birth has been for her. Her future is her own but If I can leave her a legacy I've built to give her a better life then I'm going to do that.
I was born out in the Panhandle of Texas and raised in the DFW most of my life. As a kid, I thought of tattooing but never really considered it a real option. Friends and family always said I should because I drew constantly but I didn't really think I could do it for a living. Fast forward to a few years out of high school I was put in a position where I didn't have any direction in life. Art was the only thing I didn't pursue before so in 2012 I gave it a shot and it hasn't stopped since then.
I'm co-owner of The Black Rose Studio in Mansfield, TX and also co-owner of Worldwide Ink Magazine. I travel to conventions and collect tattoos in my off time from various artists from all over the world. Tattooing is very important to me and preserving its history, culture, and future for current and future artists. The purpose for the show are those reasons and for everyone who appreciates the culture of what we do whether it's clients, collectors, or artists.
I am a California transplant who grew up in Arlington. I am a Lead Artist and owner of Depiction Tattoo Gallery. I became interested in tattoo artistry in 2007 after working in the permanent makeup field. Once I became interested in Tattooing vas an artform, I had a bit of a hard time finding a shop that would hire me, partly due to the fact that I am a woman. So, in 2010, Depiction Tattoo Gallery was born. To be honest, I have never looked back!
My big “Why” is my son Austin. My goal is to be a good role model for him and raise a contributing young man for our world. For this reason, I try to lead a healthy lifestyle by working out and eating well. He is so smart, funny and brave and being his mom is my favorite thing about life!
I am an avid tattoo collector, a quick glance at me says it all. I dabble with playing the keyboard. I love a good dive bar and enjoy going to shows and I love to have plans for my next travel adventure. I feel very lucky to have a profession that feels like a hobby. I value trying things for the first time and hope to continue engaging in new endeavors with other like minded individuals.
I am growing as a business leader and concentrating on working on my business which is one of the reasons that I decided to put on this expo. I am looking forward to bringing people together and hosting events, plus I want to put Arlington, TX in the forefront. I have the experience necessary to make sure our attending artists and guests have a great time and leave feeling like they were appreciated, supported, and entertained.
