Hell City Tattoo Festival: 'It's not bikers. It’s creative young artists here'

At the Hell City Tattoo Festival this weekend, artists and tattoo recipients alike are excited about a culture that’s growing more open and inclusive — especially to women — and a society that’s becoming more accepting of tattoos in general.

Every year, hundreds of tattoo artists flock to Hell City from all over the country and world to perform work on attendees, network with other artists and participate in competitions and other events.

The festival began in 2002 in Columbus, Ohio, and in 2008 expanded to include an annual Phoenix event. This year's event, which continues Sunday, is at the Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., in Phoenix.

Durb Morrison, 46, the owner and self-described “mad scientist” behind Hell City, said the convention aims to cast tattooing in a positive light.

“It’s had a stigma for so many years,” Morrison said. “We show people that it’s not convicts, it’s not bikers. It’s creative young artists here.”

One of those young artists at this year’s event is Caitlyn Cambell, 25, who tattoos at the Golden Yeti in Nashville. On Saturday afternoon, she was giving 19-year-old Toby Engel his first tattoo: a cat wearing a Spiderman mask.

Campbell said in recent years, the tattoo industry has grown increasingly accepting of female artists.

“When I was looking for an apprenticeship, the first few artists I approached didn't really take me too seriously. They kind of looked at me like an object,” Campbell said. “Now, I feel like more women are taken seriously as artists.”

At Hell City in Phoenix this year, approximately a third of attending tattoo artists are female, according to festival manager Jewels Cardosa.

“It’s more and more every year, and some of the lady tattooers out there are crushing it,” Cardosa said.

Artists also say the “rough and tough” mentality that used to be an unspoken requirement for all successful tattooists is no longer as prevalent in the culture.

Phoenix artist Misty Locket, of Divinity Tattoo, has been tattooing for about 15 years. Locket, 39, said you no longer have to be “tough” to be a tattoo artist.

“That almost came before the artwork ... depending on what shop you worked at, and who you worked for, being tough and being able to deal with your co-workers was Number One,” Locket said. “If you couldn't do that, it didn't matter how skilled or talented you were ... you were just never gonna make it.”

Now, the focus is much more on skills and artistry — and those looking to get tattoos are becoming more interested in large, custom-made pieces, according to Locket.

“There’s more people willing to spend money on good artwork,” Locket said. “All different genres of people are getting tattoos now — it’s so much more acceptable to be a professional and get tattooed.”

Artists participate in Hell City through a selective application process, and Morrison said he only will sell a booth if at least two professional artists will be working there.

“We don’t have apprentices here. We have nothing but high-caliber professionals,” Morrison said.

Morrison’s wife, Cervena Fox, is also a tattoo artist with a booth at Hell City. She said tattooing is becoming less of an underground practice and more acceptable in society generally, and the convention reflects that.

“This event is a really family-friendly event,” Fox said. “They used to do a little kids’ area, and now they’ve turned the area into kids getting tattoos — the fake airbrushing kind.”

In addition to tattoo showcases and competitions, the convention also features collaborative painting sessions, live music and burlesque performances. Hell City continues Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. (Schedule here.)