Roma Tattoo Expo #20 (2019)

Roma Tattoo Expo #20 (2019)

From May 3rd to 5th, 2019, the world’s leading tattoo artists gathered in the Italian capital, turning Rome into a global epicenter of ink, culture, and artistic expression during the XX International Tattoo Expo Roma.

Once rooted in ritual and spirituality, tattooing has evolved through rebellion, contemporary art, and mainstream culture to become one of the most powerful forms of personal identity and visual storytelling today. From fashion models to professionals, from underground subcultures to global influencers, tattooing now transcends social boundaries—becoming both an artistic statement and a cultural phenomenon.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the International Tattoo Expo Roma confirmed its status as one of the five largest and most influential tattoo conventions in the world. Hosted inside the impressive halls of the Nuova Fiera di Roma, the event welcomed more than 400 tattoo artists from every corner of the globe, alongside brands, exhibitors, collectors, performers, and tattoo enthusiasts.

For three non-stop days, the convention transformed the exhibition center into a fully immersive tattoo universe—an ink-filled labyrinth of machines, needles, art, and performance. From traditional masters to contemporary innovators, the event showcased the immense diversity of modern tattooing while celebrating the culture surrounding body art in all its forms.

Among the featured artists were some of the most respected names in the international tattoo scene. Legendary Japanese master Sensei Honda traveled from Itoshima to demonstrate the rare Tebori technique, still tattooing entirely by hand without the use of machines. Singapore’s Calvin Ngo presented his highly disciplined Japanese-inspired compositions, while Spain’s Dani Guirao arrived fresh from a major victory in Seville with his acclaimed black and grey work.

Artists such as Jakub Hendrix and Jimmy Jhonsson collaborated on a unique two-hand tattoo performance for the convention’s final contest, while renowned specialists including John Paul Cheng, Chris Liang, Hori-Kan, Kimihito Kawahara, Karol Rybakowsky, Jemka, Damian Gorski, Anders Isso, and Henriette Blackbird brought styles ranging from fine line and Japanese traditional to watercolor, color realism, and experimental contemporary tattooing.

The event also highlighted the growing influence of female tattoo artists within the global industry. Artists such as Jin O, Elisheba Israel Mrozik, Natasha “Animal,” Selina Colleye, Maya Sapiga, and Carissa Lee demonstrated an extraordinary range of artistic approaches—from delicate illustrative work and fantasy-inspired compositions to powerful reinterpretations of Eastern iconography.

Beyond tattooing itself, the convention embraced music, performance art, street culture, and alternative lifestyles. Ritual The Club joined the event as artistic partner, celebrating a shared twenty-year history deeply connected to Rome’s underground and alternative scenes. Throughout the weekend, visitors experienced aerial performances from Torture Garden artists Sasha Flexy and Skinny Red Head, live entertainment, pole dance shows, bondage performances, and DJ sets—including a special appearance by Samuel of the iconic Italian band Subsonica.

A major highlight of the convention was the DRAGO Lounge, a 300-square-meter cultural space curated by editor Paulo von Vacano and Carlotta Vagnoli. Designed as a meeting point between tattoo culture, street art, music, and publishing, the lounge hosted exhibitions, talks, workshops, and live performances featuring internationally respected creatives such as legendary West Coast photographer Estevan Oriol and photographer Paolo Cenciarelli.

Reflecting on the convention’s evolution, artistic director Paolo Core recalled how the very first edition in 2000 was little more than a gathering among tattoo enthusiasts. Two decades later, the event had grown into a world-class international convention welcoming hundreds of artists from every continent while continuing to push the boundaries of tattoo culture and innovation.

The XX International Tattoo Expo Roma was more than a convention—it was a celebration of twenty years of artistic evolution, underground culture, and global tattoo community, solidifying Rome’s place as one of the defining capitals of contemporary tattoo culture.