WHY HANG your art on the wall when you can put it on your body?
The Savannah Tattoo Festival returns for its third year this weekend. The fun goes down April 13-15 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
After hosting a tattoo festival in Virginia Beach for several years, the organizers chose to expand the festival to Savannah.
In addition to bringing in artists from around the country, the Savannah Tattoo Festival celebrates our local tattoo artists. Twelve Savannah shops are included in the festivities this year.
Enjoy live entertainment throughout the festival. The Carnival of Curiosity and Chaos features sideshow acts, burlesque, clowns, fire dancing, and more. The Savannah Sweet Tease will also perform their burlesque revue. Artist Earl Funk will be painting a live mural through the event.
Another highlight of the festival is tattoo historian Mike Skiver’s appearance. Owner and curator of the Tattoo Museum, Skiver will be bringing his collection from Spider Webb, legendary New York artist from the 1970s who helped improve the public perception of tattoos.
Enjoy after parties at the Jinx every evening.
During the festival, artists will be judged for Tattoo of the Day, and the Best in Show judging closes out the weekend.
But the best part of the festival? You can get tattooed onsite if you’re over 18 and bring your ID. We put together a guide of the local artists who will be tattooing at the festival, along with their Instagram handles to help you choose whose art you dig the most.
Anonymous Tattoo, 9 E. Bay Street
Artists: Clay McCay (@claymccay), Dean Denney (@deandenney), Ricky McGee (@ricky_anonymoustattoo)
Clay McCay was recently featured on Ink Master: Angels on the Paramount Network when they came through Savannah for their competition. Ricky McGee specializes in black work, while Dean Denney and Clay McCay’s work is colorful traditional.
Black Orchid Tattoo, 118 W. Victory Dr.
Artists: Chris Autry (@chrisautry_tattooer), Scott Althen (@misteralthen), Mags Beam (@magsbeam), Pete Castaneda (@tattoosbyl.a.pete), Camden Noir (@camdenoir), Austen Minor (@austen_minor), Natia Olsen (@swamplost)
Black Orchid’s lineup of artists includes a variety of style, from Natia Olsen’s black horror scenes to Camden Noir’s bright painterly look.
Ghost Town Tattoo, 35 Montgomery St.
Artists: Brian Warnekros (@creepshowglue), Chase Holland (@chaseholland8), Corey Steverson (@cs_tattoo), Jason Fields (@jasonryanfields)
Ghost Town’s talented artists deliver colorful, traditional work that’s sure to impress.
Kustom Hustle Tattoo, 348 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Artists: Anthony Ojeda (@anthonyelectric), Ashley Cox (@ashcrack), Chris Norrell (@csnorrell), Michael Ferrera (@michael_ferrera)
The artists at Kustom Hustle offer a variety of styles, from Ashley Cox’s pinup-style portraits to Michael Ferrera’s simple black designs.
Original Skin Tattoos and Piercing, 14045 Abercorn St.
Artists: Joseph Prutz (@joeprutz), Harper Cantrell (@harpertattoos), Lucas Jandura (@hallowed.hexes), Phillip Wells (@phillipwellstattoos)
Located in Oglethorpe Mall, Original Skin’s roster of artists is as talented as they are diverse.
Red Ocean Tattoo, 111 E. President St.
Artists: Ben Kelly (@redoceantattoo), Frankie Lambough (@frankielambough), Josie Pi (@josie_pi), Mareva Lambough (@lady_mandala)
Red Ocean is a full-spectrum shop—their artists can tattoo in any style, and they offer non-laser tattoo removal through Tatt2Away.
Resurrection Ink, 310 E. Montgomery Cross Rd.
Artists: Ward Bassett, Robert John, Mark Simmons (@resurrectionink)
Resurrection Ink’s tattoo artists and piercers deliver strong work every time.
Riverside Tattoo Parlor, 2819 River Dr.
Artists: Mo Schreffler (@tattoos.by.mo), Lily Huffman (@queenhufftattoos), Lydia Schneider (@lydia_sticks), Jas Helena (@jashelena)
The girl power at Riverside is strong. The female owned and operated parlor offers a variety of styles, from Lauren Kidder’s bright traditional tattoos to Lydia Schneider’s stick-and-pokes.
Savannah Ink Tattoo: 119 Jefferson St.
Artists: Taylor Elliott (@youcancallmegordo), Jordan Mays (@jordanmays)
From Taylor Elliott’s dreamy florals to Jordan Mays’ Japanese-inspired work, Savannah Ink’s artists are sure to please.
The Butcher Tattoo Studio, 19 E. Bay St.
Artists: Cory Hand (@coryhandtattoos), Jimmy Butcher (@thebutcherbrand), Kelly Borders (@kellyborderstattoo), Pat Crump (@patcrump)
The Butcher’s Jimmy Butcher also recently appeared on Ink Masters: Angels. If you’re interested in a comic-themed piece, be sure to head to Cory Hand, who specializes in comic tattoos.
Tramp Art Studios, 302 W. Victory Dr., Ste. E
Artist: Billy Cassat (@trampartstudios)
Husband-and-wife duo Billy and Kirsten Cassat run this shop and art studio on West Victory.
White Bluff Tattoo Company, 8110 White Bluff Rd., Ste. B
Artists: Sharon Gaskill (@sharonaileen), Meira Maurice (@meira_yael), Becca Davis (@beccabootattoos), Jacob Green (@jacobgreentattoo), Lyndzee Lawver (@lyndzee_)
White Bluff Tattoo’s artists deliver impressive work, from Meira Maurice’s colorfully detailed pieces to Lyndzee Lawver’s black linework.
