The 22nd annual Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention this weekend is just one sign of the city’s robust tattoo scene. Local artists say Philly’s tattoo industry has been growing and continues to grow — for better or worse.
“Philly’s always been one of the biggest tattoo cities in America, ” said Jason Goldberg, a tattoo artist of almost 30 years and owner of Old City Tattoo. “In Philly, everyone has always been covered in tattoos.”
, but compared to other American cities, Goldberg maintains Philadelphians don’t bat an eye when they see white-collar employees with colorful tattoos peeking out of their dress shirts or sprawled across their hands.
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Among tattoo artists like Steven Martin Jr., who used to make a living tattooing palm trees on tourists in the Florida Keys, Philly has a reputation of taking ink seriously.
“The projects [in Philly] are some things I could really sink my teeth into, ” said Martin, who now works with Art Machine Productions. “They respect the art of it, not just the novelty.”
Still, there is something to be missed about the days before tattoo magazines and reality shows brought the trade into the limelight, said Goldberg. The times when tattoo shops weren’t a stone’s throw away from one another on South Street and aspiring artists had to work hard to perfect the craft.
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Goldberg said back in the old days, there was no YouTube or online forums where artists could learn the nuances of certain tattoo machines, which needles worked best, and what colors to use.
“Back then, everything was a secret. It was better that way, ” said Goldberg, letting out a laugh. He started tattooing in his teens. It was years before he caught the attention of an established tattoo artist in the city.
Goldberg was only half-joking about how the advent of the internet has made it so people “look at [tattooing] like any other job.”
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His beef is mostly with an oversaturation of tattoo shops and artists in Philly and how there’s not enough business to go around. He admits the unlimited flow of information has brought about a whole new wave of artists.
The number of tattoo artists and businesses has grown in recent decades, the artists say, but it’s hard to tell by the number of body artist licenses issued alone. The city currently reports more than 400 people carry said license. The body artists license includes piercing and microblading, and tattoo artists are part of a transient community, according to a spokesman for the city’s Department of Public Health.
“Not only do you have to be a good artist, but I feel like it’s a 50-50 split with me trying to market myself each day, ” said Martin. “Because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good I am if I don’t make myself accessible to people.”
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Goldberg remembers when the conventions were small affairs with only several dozen booths. The annual gatherings that took place once or twice a year served as a place to network with top artists from across the globe, talk about the latest in inks, and most importantly, trade designs.
“Everyone would draw their own designs, we would go to the convention, we would trade them, ” Goldberg said. “You wanted the hot new shit on the wall.”
Nowadays, conventions like the one in Philly are so large, it’s overwhelming, said Goldberg, who prefers to stay within the confines of his shop’s booth and tattoo eager aficionados. Still, he acknowledged the power of the conventions. Just a handful of billboards with the word “tattoo” helps business, he said.
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Artists like Martin have used the conventions to his advantage. He’ll often travel out of state when business is slow in Philly and set up his tools at a convention.
Is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.Thinking about new ink? Tattoos are getting more popular all the time. A 2019 poll found 30% of Americans have at least one tattoo, up from just 21% in 2012.
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The majority of those branding sessions go off without a hitch. “In most cases, tattoos aren’t harmful, ” says dermatologist Alok Vij, MD. “But there are some risks you should know about if you’re considering a tattoo.”
Modern tattoo artists perform their magic with machines that use multiple needles to inject colored pigments into the dermis, the middle layer of skin. Unsurprisingly, that doesn’t feel great. “Getting a tattoo can be painful, ” Dr. Vij says.
While the pain is temporary, the artwork is forever. “One of the biggest risks is tattoo regret, ” cautions Dr. Vij. (Sure, there’s laser tattoo removal, but it’s painful, expensive and can take months). That’s why it’s good to stop and think a minute before you get your new crush’s name etched into your skin.
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The majority of tattoos heal fine without lasting problems, however. “These complications are rare, but it’s good to be aware of the possibility, ” Dr. Vij says.
Look for a clean, well-run shop with licensed tattoo artists and sterile equipment. Ask if the artist has experience working on clients with your skin tone, Dr. Vij advises. “Pigments can appear different on fair skin versus darker skin, ” he says.
Never resort to home tattoo kits, even if the person doing it says they have plenty of experience. Permanent body modification isn’t the time to cut corners.
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Ibuprofen and aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding, so they aren’t the best painkillers to choose if you’re gearing up to get inked, Dr. Vij says. Instead, reach for acetaminophen, which doesn’t carry a risk of bleeding. Alcohol can also increase the bleeding risk (not to mention the risk of tattoo regret), so don’t schedule your tattoo after happy hour.
You can expect your new tat to smart a bit the day you get it, but it should feel better over the next few days. Here’s how to help the healing process along.
Your tattoo artist should send you home with instructions for caring for your body art. You’ll need to keep it covered for 24 hours. “Soak the bandage in warm water to soften it before gently peeling it off, ” Dr. Vij says. “Then wash it with a gentle cleanser and warm water to remove scabbing or crusting.”
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Slather your new tattoo with a thick layer of mild ointment like petroleum jelly, Dr. Vij says. “Scabbing and crusting delay healing, so keep it well moisturized.”
Some redness, flaking and scabbing are normal as your tattoo heals, Dr. Vij says. But see a doctor if you notice any signs of infection:
Some inks can fade in response to UV light. Sun damage can also weaken the collagen fibers in the dermis, where the pigment is housed. To keep your new artwork looking bright and crisp, coat your tattoo with sunscreen when you’re out in the sunshine, Dr. Vij says. (But you were wearing sunscreen anyway, right?)
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With the right TLC, your new body art will soon be healed and just another beautiful part of the skin you’re in.
Thinking about getting inked? Tattoos are generally safe, but they carry some risks. To avoid infections or other problems, read these tips before your tattoo.Every day during lockdown Samantha Barry, the editor of Glamour Magazine, walked or ran along the West Side Highway in New York City. “I would go from Chelsea to the Statue of Liberty, ” she said. “This was my moment of sanity every day.”
This was the longest she had ever spent in New York City without leaving to visit her family in Ireland. During the pandemic, she developed a greater appreciation for the place that is now her home.
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She had always admired tattoos. “Done right, they look a little bit like jewelry, ” said Ms. Barry, 39. But she never had a compelling idea of what to get. “It has to mean something to have it permanently etched on your body.”
Now, however, she knew exactly what she wanted: a sleek, tiny New York City skyline. Jonathan Valena, a tattoo artist known as JonBoy who works out of the Moxy Times Square hotel, tattooed it on her wrist at the end of 2020.
“We will talk about 2020 when we are old and gray, and now I have something on my body that symbolizes where I was, ” she said. “This is my way to recognize it.”
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While the pandemic may be a time many want to forget, others are doing the opposite, getting tattoos to commemorate their experiences. Some are marking where they spent the year or a lesson they learned from the turmoil. Some Covid-19 survivors are getting tattoos that remind them they are alive and have strength. Some people are getting tattoos to memorialize those they lost.
“I remember the day Sam got her tattoo, ” Mr. Valena said. “She represented the strength of New York and taught me I wasn’t alone.”
Ms. Barry said that many New Yorkers notice
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