Tattoofest 2023 was another edition of Poland's oldest tattoo convention, described in the original announcement as one of the region's most prestigious events. The 2023 event was its 16th edition, with four hundred leading artists from Poland and abroad announced.
Tattoofest in Kraków
The event took place at EXPO Kraków. The venue included areas for tattoos, shops, graffiti, exhibitions and food. It offered opportunities to meet, exchange experiences, make connections, attend training and discussion panels, and get a new tattoo.
Tattoo competitions are a regular part of the event. In 2023, nine categories were announced, each judged separately for fresh and healed tattoos. The categories were:
- old school/traditional;
- neo-traditional;
- new school;
- ethnic (tribal, blackwork, geometry and classic Japanese tattooing);
- realistic: black and grey;
- realistic: colour;
- graphic (engraving, fine line, trash polka and watercolour);
- two-day tattoos;
- collaborations.
Gozdi on the Tattoofest 2023 judging panel!
We were delighted to announce that Damian "Gozdi" Gozdur had been invited by the Tattoofest 2023 organisers to judge the old school/traditional category.
Damian "Gozdi" Gozdur has been tattooing since 2010. He is self-taught. Before choosing old-school tattooing, he tried new school and calligraphy. He loves drawing, painting and animals, especially dogs. He has worked at Dirty Lust Tattoo Warszawa almost since its beginning. His work received awards at the 5th Transilvania Tattoo Expo and Gdańsk Tattoo Konwent 2012. Read the interview he gave Tattoofest magazine, or learn about old-school tattoos. Here are tattoos Damian created from his own designs:
Instagram: @Damian.Gozdur
Facebook: @Damian * Gozdi * Gozdur