WATCH: This event is celebrating art through ink

• Artists came from all over the country
• Convention had tattoos, music, food, and more

A celebration of art and self-expression is how one organizer describes the Okanagan Tattoo Show.

For the first time in two years, the event returned to Kelowna, bringing in artists from all over the country and a few from the United States as well.

“It’s been unbelievable, there’s really no other way to say it. The positive response solidifies we’ve made the right move to come back,” Terence Smith told Kelowna10. “We’ve been able to create something that is just super inviting for everybody.”

The show took place at the Kelowna Curling Club and a long line of people were eager to get inside to get inked and check out some work from different vendors.

Over 100 tattoo artists were at the event, showcasing their work, networking, and tattooing on the spot.

Smith said the event is a celebration of art where everyone can come together to share their love for tattoos.

“It allows people who are introverted to put something on themselves [and] it’s a really good way of being able to bond and create those bonds through the expression of art,” he explained. “It’s also pushing really female forward, 60 per cent of our tattoo artists are female.”

One of those artists was Hanna Koester, from Lunar Pixie Tattoos. Originally from Kelowna, but living in Thunder Bay, she said coming to this event has been full circle.

“The coolest people come to conventions because they just want art. I just want to make art, so that’s perfect,” she said. “I’ve actually only been tattooed at conventions. This is my first convention working, so it’s been a really welcoming experience.”

Koester’s style is more illustrative, taking inspiration from neo-traditional, but in a more vintage feel that draws from scientific botanical art.

She said not only are tattoos a way to express art, but they can also help people work through things and she enjoys being part of that person’s transformation journey.

“Tattoos have the ability to really heal,” Koester said. “A lot of people who get tattooed say that they start to feel more at home in their bodies once they’ve really owned that part of themselves and started collecting art.”