Over 200 tattoo artists from around the world will be at the second annual Memphis Tattoo Festival, held at the Renasant Convention Center from April 4-6, 2025.
The festival started 20 years ago in Fort Wayne, Indiana by two tattoo shop owners, Jake and Jes Farris. Now, it is held in 13 cities around the United States.
Quinn Hurley, the Director of Operations of Tattoo Fest, says the event is like “window shopping” and provides people with opportunities to discover new artists and styles they like.
He says while there will be music in the background, the festival will be filled with people smiling, working hard, and having fun.
“It’s chill, that’s something I do like to make pretty explicitly clear,” Hurley said.
One of the artists this year is Tyler Renfrow from Illusion Ink in Southaven, Mississippi. He has been tattooing for 8 years and describes his style as geometric based.
“I love going and being a part of tattoo conventions because of the camaraderie and the time you get to spend with other tattoo [artists] for the weekend,” Renfrow said.
Attendees will have opportunities to get fresh ink, as well as participate in contests for the best pieces received before and during the festival.
He says tattoos are an ‘incredibly useful tool for self-expression’ that can be sentimental, or, “you can also get a can of Mountain Dew Baja Blast on you,” just because you like it.
Hurley has around 17 tattoos himself but has stopped counting.
He previously managed Studio 13 Tattoo, owned by the founders of Tattoo Fest, and continues to work with them. “I believe in them and their pursuit of making tattooing better, more inviting, a more shared culture.”
There will also be vendors selling merchandise such as jewelry, art, and tattooing supplies.
Three-day weekend and single day passes are available for purchase on the Memphis Tattoo Festival website.
