MANSFIELD — Hundreds of festival goers get inked during the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival at the historic Ohio State Reformatory.
Though most ticket holders attend for the music, body art holds its own as a featured element of the three-day festival in Mansfield.
More than 100 artists from 40 tattoo shops across the country travel to Mansfield to show off their work and compete in a judged competition.
The artists compete in seven categories through the weekend and three winners are chosen in each. Best in Show, the crown jewel, is chosen on Sunday.
Those seeking to be tattooed must have a pass to the festival in order to get ink from one of the 115 artists.
Inkcarceration boasts a wide selection of ink artists
Christina Crish has been coming to Inkcarceration for five years.
Crish, a Portland, Ohio resident, used to volunteer at the Ohio State Reformatory during Inkcarceration — which she said made her “fall in love” with the event.
While standing in line to enter the festival’s Monster Energy Tattoo Shop, Crish said she’d never been tattooed at Inkcarceration.
“I’m finally able to be a guest and actually get a tattoo,” she said. “I wasn’t able to when I volunteered.”
Joining Crish in line was Cheyenne Taylor, a Salem, Ohio resident.
Taylor has been coming to the three-day event for three years and was inked at a previous festival.
When asked why she’s chosen to participate in the body art portion of Inkcarceration, Taylor said the wide selection of artists is a big reason.
“There’s a bunch of different styles you can look at ahead of time and you can see the artists all in one spot,” she said.
“You don’t have to find an artist somewhere that does the style you want, they’re most likely here,” Taylor said.
A FULL GUIDE TO INKCARCERATION 2024
Local shop included among 115 ink artists
Artists at the festival come from as far as Kansas City and New York.
However, local tattoo artists are also represented at this year’s festival. Envious Ink, located on Lexington Avenue in Mansfield, is among the 40 shops providing ink this weekend.
No matter which artist or shop festival goers decide to book an appointment with, Taylor encourages them to go for it.
“They (artists) really care about their clients here,” she said. “They really do make sure you (and your tattoo) stay clean.”
Visit the festival’s website to check the availability of tattoo appointments on Saturday or Sunday, or to find out what shops welcome walk-up clients.
(Below are photos, taken by Rob Stroul, from the Monster Energy Tattoo Shop on Friday at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival.)
