Get Inked! At the 14th Annual Tattoo Fiesta

Every year the New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta makes its way through the Albuquerque Convention Center to show the Southwest of the U.S. some of the best tattoo artists around. Started in 2013, the Tattoo Fiesta has been the expo for hundreds of artists and shops to find new clientele, talk to fellow artists and help connect artists to each other.

Founded by the late John “Bael” Sisneros, the Tattoo Fiesta was the brainchild of traveling around the world to other tattoo festivals and wishing New Mexico had its very own. Now though, the festival is hosted by his brother Helm Sisneros, who continues to carry his brother’s legacy.

Tattooing wasn’t always such a celebrated art in Albuquerque. Until 1999 tattooing was banned within city limits. “Brian Everett, one of our partners, is a really big black and gray artist, and he actually had one of the first shops ever here in Albuquerque,” says Sisneros, who owns Por Vida Tattoo in Downtown Albuquerque. 

Black and grey seems to be one of the most popular tattoo styles across New Mexico, according to Sisneros. “I couldn’t tell you exactly the history why, but I can tell you that I know my uncles had black and gray tattoos when I was young, and maybe it’s ’cause we have dark skin out here. … I think black and grey just compliments our skin a little better.”

Although black and grey is very popular here in Albuquerque, the Tattoo Fiesta has plenty of artists that specialize in a variety of styles from Japanese to American traditional. “We don’t want just one style. So, we have people that do tebori. And tebori is when they get the needle and they jam it in you one by one, old school tebori style tattoo, you know?” says Sisneros. 

Stuart St. Louis is the owner of Albuquerque’s Cheeky Monkey Tattoo, another one of the featured shops that has been working with the Tattoo Fiesta. “As a shop we’ve been doing it [Tattoo Fiesta] five years. Me personally, the first time I went to the Tattoo Fiesta was back during my apprenticeship, so that’d be 12 years ago.” says St. Louis.

The Tattoo Fiesta will be happening this weekend on July 10, 11 and 12 at the Albuquerque Convention Center (401 Second St. NW). Friday hours are 1 to 11 p.m., Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find tickets, see what artists and shops will be attending and to learn more, visit www.newmexicotattoofiesta.com.