EVENT | NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta gets buzzing July 10-12 at the Albuquerque Convention Center
The 14th annual event brings together hundreds of artists from across the U.S. and around the world
Published
Helm Sisneros is striving to keep the vision of the New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta alive. His brother, Bael Sisneros, who died in 2024, was a co-founder of the event.
After his brother鈥檚 death, Sisneros stepped into the role of event organizer, drawing on things he had learned from watching his brother over the years.
鈥淚 think about every decision I make as in what he would want to make or what he would say,鈥� Sisneros said.
He and Bael worked together for so long, Sisneros said, often choosing opposite sides and then coming to an agreement. Sisneros said even after an argument, they would figure it out together. Now, as owner of Por Vida Tattoo, he tries to do this with his team as well.
Bael Sisneros founded the Tattoo Fiesta 16 years ago, trying to create a space for tattooers and tattoo shops to come together, Sisneros said. This is the 14th annual fiesta, he said.
Sisneros said when Bael traveled out of town for other shows, he saw something magical he wanted to bring back to Albuquerque.
鈥淚t was more of like a coming-together type of thing that he made of the Tattoo Fiesta,鈥� Sisneros said, 鈥渁nd it worked very well, because you know everybody that comes is all good friends, everybody鈥檚 talking, everybody enjoys each other鈥檚 company.鈥�
The New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta features tattooing, contests and presentations, and hundreds of tattoo artists from around the 近距离内射合集 States and the world.
鈥淭hey just love to come and get the vibe and the energy that we have down here,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd for us, we enjoy it. The show is just like a magical thing for us. It鈥檚 something that has just always brought some kind of good energy, and we鈥檝e always had a good time doing it.鈥�
Bael wanted to bring the tattoo community together, Sisneros said.
鈥淗e was really big on pulling people together 鈥� versus an individual holding on to all his stuff,鈥� Sisneros said.
鈥淗e would also do these things online, where he would just be on live, and he鈥檇 be drawing on live, teaching people how to draw script and roses and stuff.鈥�
This is why the fiesta focuses on different seminars, which include the history of tattooing, tattoo machine building and different art styles.
Sisneros said eventgoers can also learn from meeting and talking to artists. He found inspiration to adapt to new tattoo styles from the late Jack Rudy, Sisneros said, and a passion to tattoo for love, not money, from Eric Inksmith.
鈥淏y hearing that from these old guys, it really pushes me to truly love tattooing and understand that it鈥檚 something that is just a passion,鈥� Sisneros said.
鈥淭hese guys are way older, they鈥檝e been in it for, like, 20, 30 years longer than I have, and getting to hear what they say about what they鈥檝e been through the industry is something great, and that鈥檚 something that I love about the fiesta itself.鈥�
Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow for the 近距离内射合集. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.
