By Max Hengst

A-J Media

More than 200 tattoo artists from around the state and country will converge on the Hub City this weekend.

The sixth annual Lubbock Tattoo Expo is set for Friday through Sunday in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, said organizer Mike Diaz, who called the event a win-win for Lubbock area tattoo enthusiasts and tattoo artists alike.

“Lubbock really likes having this event come to them,” said Diaz, a tattoo artist and owner of Lubbock’s Sunken City Ink shop. “Also, a lot of artists just like coming to Lubbock because of the people here.”

Among the featured artists are Diaz, a former contestant on cable TV show Ink Master in 2018, along with fellow Ink Master contestants Linzy Michelle and Don Hawkins. Current contestant on Ink Master: Turf War, Nychelle Elise, will also be at the expo.

“It’s really cool to see both sides where you bring your friends or your artists to your town, and then you’re also showing your town to your friends, which are the artists,” Diaz said. “So you just really hope it’s a win-win and not a lose-lose.”

Attendees can get tattooed or pierced on the spot. The tattoo artists’ art can also be bought for those who do not want to get inked. The artists will also compete in daily tattoo competitions.

The Tattoo Expo will also have a live DJ, arm wrestling competitions and a hang-bar contest.

The annual event will also bring back its famous “Hole in the Wall” booth. This is where attendees can stick their arm or leg in a hole and receive a random tattoo of the artist’s choice for $25.

One tattoo artist from Freeport, Matthew West, has been going to the Tattoo Expo since it was brought to Lubbock. He said coming to Lubbock each year has helped him gain more exposure after winning several awards for his work.

“I’m very grateful that they’re able to throw this out there for us and let us come out there and get this exposure, and be able to see and work with the Diaz family,” West said. “The Diaz family is such a hard-working family, it’s such a network that they have. If they didn’t all work together as they did, it wouldn’t be pulled off so smoothly and as great as it is.”

Admission to the Tattoo Expo is $20 for a day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. The expo will kick off Friday and Saturday from noon-11 p.m. The convention will conclude Sunday from noon-8 p.m.