WACO, Texas — “I started in 1997 up in Alaska, and up there I was on a path not good for anybody and this was kind of my outlet to get away from everything,” tattoo artist Noelin Wheeler said.
It's a talent that tells a story.
“That’s the beautiful part about tattooing, we get to interact with people from all across the world who have a like-minded direction in life,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler is one of several artists who traveled to our community for Waco’s first ever International Tattoo Expo—with other artists from all over the world.
“Australia, Canada, East Coast, West Coast, Colorado, everywhere,” Tattoo Expo planner Hollie Stringer said.
Founder of the event Art Cantu Jr., said Central Texas is the perfect place for artists to showcase their tattoo talents.
“Through those 13 years, Waco was always a town you passed through and it’s a city that you stop in now. Just putting one on and bringing people here from all across the world basically is very satisfying for me,” Cantu said.
Many people said they were grateful for the chance to be surrounded by other artists.
“I mean it’s cool just getting to expand our clientele and getting to see new places,” California artist Reid Elizabeth said.
“We can travel to Germany, we can travel to the Netherlands and run into different artists and in a way it’s like a little family global,” Wheeler said.
This was Waco’s first ever International Tattoo Expo where visitors got the chance to explore artists and get walk-in tattoos.
“Being able to bring all of these really talented artists to somewhere local here in Texas is really awesome and to be able to offer to the community,” Stringer said.
There were more than 130 artists in attendance.
