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Thousands of tattoo artists from all over the world came out for The 2025 Empire Tattoo Expo at the New York Hilton Midtown located at 1335 6th Ave from Friday, May 9th to Sunday, May 11th. This weekend-end-long event ran until midnight. The Empire Tattoo Expo is known as the world’s greatest tattoo convention.

The event was presented by Freshly Inked Magazine (IG@freshlyinkedmagazine) and tattoo marketing and management Ink Admin (@inkadmin). The event covered everything related to the tattoo culture, including tattoo supply companies, tattoo removal, alternative tattoo art such as xilotattoo or line tattoo, and original merchandise designed by the tattoo artists at the convention.

 

Next to Stephanie Heffron, was another contestant from Ink Master season 16, Alena Wedderburn (IG@alenatattoos), from New York City and is resident tattoo artist Inked Magazine’s Tattoo Shop, Inked NYC ( IG@Inked_nyc) on West 23rd Street. She is working on a leg piece that takes two days to complete

“This event was the best in artistic quality that I have ever been to. It was an incredible experience,” said Thaís França Xilotattoo, a tattoo artist who specializes in xilotattoo tattoos at the convention.

 

Petunia Twins (IG@petunia.twins) from Beverly Hills, California. The twin tattoo artists, Aline and Alena Petunia, own a female-staffed tattoo shop called Petunia Twins Ink in West Hollywood.

The sound of buzzing tattoo guns filled the air in the two-floor event. Tattoo- aficionados came not only to network and build their brands and businesses but also to get unique pieces done on-site.

New York-based tattoo artist and owner, Carmen Verdugo (IG@myart_carmen) of Liberty Tattoo Shop (IG@libertycentertattooshop) in the heart of Times Square. Verdugo is originally from Chile.

“It’s a different clientele, that are coming for big pieces and super high-quality work.” said Stephaine Heffron (IG@stephaineheffontattoos), a tattoo artist from Tucson, Arizona at Humble and Grand Tattoo Company (IG@humbleandgrandtattooco), and was 4th place on Ink Master season 16.

 

“I came to today’s event because the tattoo artists are world-renowned. I love and admire all the artists and it is an honor to work alongside all of them,” she said. “My favorite part is just the clients. It’s unbelievable how dedicated they are and how committed they are to do a whole leg piece!” she said.

Next to Stephanie Heffron, was another contestant from Ink Master season 16, Alena Wedderburn (IG@alenatattoos), from New York City and is resident tattoo artist Inked Magazine’s Tattoo Shop, Inked NYC ( IG@Inked_nyc) on West 23rd Street. She is originally from Yakutia, Russia.

 

“I work in New York City, so I do this convention every year. My favorite part is hanging out with friends and sharing my tattoos and having a good time!” said Wedderburn. “My plan for the last day is to finish this leg tattoo and watch everybody’s tattoos and make connections and network. It is very important,” she said.

 

Going through the first floor, came across another New York-based tattoo artist and owner, Carmen Verdugo (IG@myart_carmen) of Liberty Tattoo Shop (IG@libertycentertattooshop) in the heart of Times Square. Verdugo is originally from Chile and expressed her excitement about the convention, “This is our first convention, and want to introduce it to the public and to the other tattoo shops as well.” said Verdugo.

 

“We have a year and a half in the business, and my favorite part is the vibe and the energy. A lot of people come from different parts of the United States. I just gave a tattoo to someone from Australia.” she said.

 

Walking through the floor, there was a table with double trouble with the Petunia Twins (IG@petunia.twins) from Beverly Hills, California. The twin tattoo artists, Aline and Alena Petunia, own a female-staffed tattoo shop called Petunia Twins Ink in West Hollywood.

“We are from the West Coast, and love visiting the East Coast and check out New York City. We love the Empire Tattoo Expo and come every year,” she said. “My favorite part is meeting all the beautiful artists and working with them and having fun!”

 

The convention not only brought tattoo artists out but companies for alternative beauty services like indie brand Lunatick Cosmetic Labs LLC based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tooth gems are a popular fashion and beauty trend in 2025. It is a service that is offered in tattoo shops. Also called oral jewelry or teeth jewelry, tooth gems are a specialrhinestone placed on a tooth and can last up to 6 months to a year and do not stop from daily activities like brushing teeth or eating.

 

“I do alternative beauty services like tooth gems and manufacture special FX make-up and that’s what I’m doing here today.” said Kat, a representative for Lunatick Cosmetic Labs LLC

 

“My favorite part of the event is meeting the other tattoo artists and seeing how they work.

I love watching them create magic!” she said

Some attendees of the convention were not only getting tattoos ink on them but also trying to remove them. A tattoo removal company called Recovery was there with information on removing tattoos, microblading, and cosmetic tattoos. Recovery has locations all over New York.

The company was there with a video and information about tattoo removal.

There were also tattoo competitions on each day of the convention. Some of the categories for the competition were Best Small and Large Color Tattoo, Best Small and Large Black and Gray Tattoo, Best Asian Influenced, Best Cover-Up, Best Sleeve, and Best Back Piece. One of the winners was Robert Carlos Sanchez Mesa (IG@robertcarlosart_tattoo) won 1st Place in the Best Sleeve Category. Na.rk, member of Wolf Pack Tattoo in New Jersey won 1st Place for Best Small Color Tattoo, Lazaro Yankiel Martinez (IG@yankiotattoo}won 2nd place for Best Color Portrait, Neon Judas (IG@neonjudas) won 2nd place for Best Portrait and Pastorelli (IG@ pastorelli_tattoo) from Sith Florida snagged  1st Place for the Best Ornamental Piece.

 

The next tattoo expo is the Golden State Tattoo Expo in L.A. hosted by Nikko Hurtado (IG@nikkohurtado) and Carlos Torres (IG@carlostorresart) on September 19th-21st. At the Pasadena Convention Center.

 

The 2026 Tattoo Convention is scheduled for next year on May 22nd -24th with host Stefano Alcantara (IG@stefanoalcantara), Yomico Moreno (IG@yomicoart), and Megan Massacre (IG@megan_massacre) at The Hilton Hotel Midtown.