The 2025 Grand Canyon State Tattoo Convention, held from May 2 to 4 at the Phoenix Shrine Auditorium, was a vibrant celebration of body art. With over 160 tattoo artists from across the United States and Arizona, attendees had the chance to admire some of the most intricate and diverse tattoos in the industry.
The three-day event attracted tattoo enthusiasts from all walks of life, eager to witness the latest trends and perhaps even get inked themselves. Local artists like Manuel Flowers from Tempe’s Next Level Studio and Mario G. of Lady Luck Tattoo showcased their exceptional skills alongside out-of-state talents, turning the convention into a gathering of some of the best tattoo artists around.
Tattoo styles at the convention ranged from adorable designs — such as Pokémon characters and Grogu from The Mandalorian — to traditional themes like dragons and skulls. Some attendees committed to larger, more intricate pieces, with hyper-detailed landscapes and full-body tattoos that took up entire sections of their bodies.
Each tattoo seen or created at the convention came with a unique backstory. Phoenix resident Devon Mahon, for example, attended the event to get a tattoo of the Pokémon Gloom from his childhood friend, Larry Kugler, a tattoo artist at Lakeside-based Dawn of Light Tattoo. “We used to play Pokémon together as kids, so it was a fun idea,” Mahon explained.
The convention’s standout tattoos, both new and existing, were celebrated during daily contests. Winners received neon-lit trophies shaped like saguaro cactuses, while the top tattoo of the day earned a coveted golden cow skull. A special “Star Wars” category was also introduced to honor May the Fourth, appealing to fans of the iconic franchise.
According to convention co-founder Drew Rheinhardt, this year’s event was a success. “Tattooing is an art that will never die,” he remarked in an interview with Phoenix New Times. The Grand Canyon State Tattoo Convention is set to return in May 2026.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the coolest tattoos we encountered during the 2025 event.
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