Thousands fill Renaissance Center for annual Motor City Tattoo Expo

Amelia Benavides-Colón, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·2 min read

For one weekend each year, hundreds of the best tattoo artists across Michigan join together for the Motor City Tattoo Expo.

In its 28th year, the convention brings together artists, vendors and tattoo aficionados for three days of tattooing and informational sessions.

For the thousands of people who filled GM Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit through the weekend, the convention is an opportunity to admire the artistry and maybe get a new tattoo. Seminars focus on the intersection of tattooing with artificial intelligence, religion and advice for growing business owners.

Families of all ages could be seen shopping around the different tattoo designs Sunday, although the longest line seemed to be at a table selling Girl Scout cookies near the entrance.

Ashlee Martinez of Livonia brought her 72-year-old mom, Dolores, to help demystify the tattooing world.

From left, Bill McGrath, 37, of Chicago waits patiently as Ben Petee of North Main Tattoo Studio in Plymouth works on his Michael Jordan tattoo during the 28th annual Motor City Tattoo Expo at the Renaissance Center in Detroit on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Close to 300 of the best tattoo artists from around the world and some from Michigan and metro Detroit were at the convention.

“I want her to see how much fun we have and how talented and creative so many of these artists are,” Martinez said. “We’re helping work her way up to getting her own.”

The sound of buzzing needles filled the air as 300 registered artists competed in a series of events including best cover-up, best traditional, best arm sleeve, best leg sleeve, best chest and best back piece.

Accessory manufacturers, selling ink, tattoo guns and other items, said the Motor City Expo is their most lucrative time of the year.

“We get a lot of local shops looking to refill their supplies so we always come with more than we think we’re going to need, and then we always end up running out,” Alyssa Cole of Eternal Ink said.

Sarah McIverson, 37 of Waterford, has had full sleeves of watercolor tattoos inked on both of her arms since graduating high school. She said her sleeves feel like her armor in a world where she constantly struggles to fit in.

"I have to hide my tattoos at work, I'm a receptionist at a hospital, and I have to hide them when I'm volunteering at my kids' school — so coming to tattoo conventions and festivals is my favorite because nobody is hiding here," she said.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Thousands fill RenCen for annual Motor City Tattoo Expo