New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta brings together the best in the industry

The art of tattoo was once seen as taboo.

As time has moved on, it’s not uncommon to see a person showcasing the masterpieces of art on their body.

This is exactly what the New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta has been celebrating for over a decade. The three-day event is back running Friday, July 7, through Sunday, July 9, at Isleta Resort & Casino.

Hundreds of tattoo artists will be part of the event, which continues to grow.

Ben Shaw, of Albuquerque’s Archetype Tattoo, will be one of the many tattoo artists involved in the event.

Shaw has been a licensed tattoo artist for 23 years. He will also participate in the seminars at the event.

At 10 a.m. Friday, July 7, Lars Krutak, a tattoo anthropologist will speak about the history of tattoos. Krutak will lead two panels, which cost $11 at newmexicotattoofiesta.com. The second panel is at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8.

Beginning at noon through 3 p.m., “The Business of Tattooing,” will take place with Ryan Roi, Jeremy Miller and Shaw.

Panel discussions continue on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9.

“I’m teaching on leadership and tattooing,” Shaw says. “In the 23 years that I’ve been in business, it’s changed so much. At this point, it’s about the industry as a whole — getting it to work together and rebuilding our trade organization.

There are so many more regulations to keep everyone safe in the industry.”

The seed for Shaw’s love for tattooing began as a child, where he had a childhood full of drawing.

He was also influenced by his father’s biker lifestyle.

At 16, he got his first professional tattoo and by 20-years-old, he began his first apprenticeship.

Today, Shaw’s body is covered 70% with tattoos.

“Each one represents a part of my life,” he says. “There’s not one style of tattoo that isn’t on my body.”

Shaw is also an in-demand artist, as his focus is on large-scale black and gray realism and Japanese tattooing.

“I do one client a day,” Shaw says. “And there’s a yearlong wait to schedule with me.”

For years, Shaw has been an advocate for the tattoo industry. He spearheaded the state-approved Board of Body Art Practitioners in 2015.

The board monitors the licensure of tattoo artists, guiding expectations of cleanliness and professionalism within the tattoo industry.

Shaw retired from his position as chairman for the Board of Body Art Practitioners in 2019, but currently sits on the board rules committee.

Shaw is also familiar with the role of mentoring others and learned through Toastmasters how to be a voice within his community.

He uses the power of public speaking to further his advocacy work for safe tattooing practices. For young aspiring artists, Shaw sets out to help them find optimal apprenticeship programs to ensure they’re in the tattoo trade for the right reasons.

In turn, he encourages them to build their own clientele with what they’ve learned skill-wise and ethics-wise.

“Tattoos are an important form of expression,” he says. “The integrity of their artists is just as vital.”

Shaw says it’s important for people to get educated on the tattoo industry.

He says each piece of art on the body is on for a lifetime.

“These decisions are very personal,” he says. “We get these marks on our body and it’s there for the rest of our lives. The pain we go through to get it is a lot. But it is solidified in our consciousness and we can always remember what we have.”

The event also features a tattoo contest. More information can be found at newmexicotattoofiesta.com.