Big Cat Tattoo Is Heading to the Fountain City Tattoo Expo 2026
Big Cat Tattoo is heading to Columbus, Georgia, for the Fountain City Tattoo Expo 2026. Members of the Big Cat crew will spend the weekend creating tattoos, sharing new flash, and representing Atlanta’s tattoo and piercing community.
The sixth annual Fountain City Tattoo Expo takes place September 18–20, 2026, at the Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center, also known as the Columbus Iron Works Convention & Trade Center. The event brings together tattoo artists, piercers, vendors, collectors, and tattoo fans from across Georgia and around the country.
Big Cat Tattoo will be represented by David Parrish, Kate Sharich, Danny Paul, Casey Hall, and professional piercer Jade Rodrigues. Whether you already have a custom tattoo idea or want to choose from artwork created specifically for the convention, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet the crew and find inspiration for your next piece.
Fountain City Tattoo Expo 2026 Event Details
The Fountain City Tattoo Expo will be held at:
Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center
801 Front Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
The current expo hours are:
Friday, September 18: 1–10 p.m.
Saturday, September 19: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sunday, September 20: Noon–8 p.m.
The convention is located in downtown Columbus along the Chattahoochee River, close to hotels, restaurants, and other local attractions. In addition to live tattooing, attendees can expect artwork, merchandise, vendors, food, drinks, and a full weekend centered around tattoo culture.
Meet the Big Cat Tattoo Crew
Big Cat Tattoo brings together Atlanta artists working across traditional, fine line, Japanese, black and grey, anime, tribal, and custom tattoo styles. The Fountain City Tattoo Expo gives Columbus-area collectors an opportunity to see their work and connect with the shop without traveling to Atlanta first.
David Parrish
Big Cat Tattoo owner David Parrish is known for American traditional tattoos, fine line work, large-scale designs, and custom pieces built around strong composition and clean execution.
David’s traditional work includes the bold outlines, recognizable imagery, and solid color associated with classic tattooing. Roses, panthers, daggers, skulls, lady heads, and other timeless subjects can all be adapted into original designs that fit the client and placement.
Anyone interested in this style can also explore Big Cat’s guide to American traditional tattoos in Atlanta before deciding what direction to take their convention piece. David’s current profile describes his work as ranging from bold American traditional designs to more refined fine line tattoos.
Kate Sharich
Kate Sharich is a versatile Atlanta tattoo artist working in American traditional, Japanese, fine line, anime, color, and black and grey styles.
Her portfolio includes bold traditional imagery, florals, lady heads, Japanese-inspired subjects, detailed black and grey work, and tattoos influenced by anime and pop culture. That range makes Kate a strong option for both clients choosing convention flash and those arriving with a more specific custom idea.
Kate works closely with clients to turn references and broad concepts into designs that feel personal while remaining clear, balanced, and suited to the body.
Danny Paul
Danny Paul will also be joining the Big Cat Tattoo crew in Columbus. Attendees will have an opportunity to see examples of his work, discuss available designs, and talk through potential tattoo ideas during the weekend.
Because convention schedules can fill quickly, anyone hoping to work with Danny should reach out to Big Cat Tattoo before the expo with information about the design, approximate size, placement, and any reference images they would like the artist to consider.
Casey Hall
Casey Hall specializes in American traditional and bold tribal tattoo styles. His work uses strong linework, solid black composition, movement, symmetry, and graphic shapes to create tattoos with an immediate visual impact.
Casey’s work is a strong fit for collectors interested in classic tattoo imagery, bold black designs, tribal compositions, or a custom piece designed to follow the natural shape of the body. His tattoos are created with readability and longevity in mind, helping the design remain strong as it heals and ages.
Jade Rodrigues
Professional Atlanta piercer Jade Rodrigues will represent the piercing side of Big Cat Tattoo.
Jade specializes in ear and lobe piercings, curated ear setups, nose piercings, septum piercings, lip piercings, and other body piercings. She prioritizes precise placement, cleanliness, client comfort, appropriate jewelry, and clear aftercare guidance.
Attendees interested in planning a new piercing or building a coordinated ear setup can meet Jade, discuss placement ideas, and learn more about the piercing services available at Big Cat Tattoo in Atlanta.
Convention Flash and Custom Tattoo Ideas
The Big Cat Tattoo artists will bring tattoo flash to the Fountain City Tattoo Expo while also accepting custom ideas.
Convention flash typically consists of pre-drawn designs created by the artists for the event. Choosing flash allows you to select something that reflects the artist’s style while still discussing details such as size, placement, color, and minor adjustments.
Clients who already have an idea can also submit references and explain what they want. The artist may revise the concept to improve the composition, make it fit the intended placement, and ensure the design will translate effectively into a tattoo.
Anyone unfamiliar with the process can read more about how tattoo flash works and explore additional flash tattoo ideas in Atlanta.
Should You Book Ahead or Walk Up?
The Fountain City Tattoo Expo allows attendees to contact artists ahead of time or look for artists accepting walk-up clients during the show. Availability and scheduling are handled by each artist rather than by the convention.
Walk-ups can work well for:
Available convention flash
Smaller tattoos
Straightforward placements
Designs that can be completed in one sitting
Booking ahead is usually the better choice when you want:
A particular artist
A fully custom tattoo
A larger or more detailed piece
A specific appointment time
Extra time to develop the design before the convention
To ask about Fountain City Tattoo Expo availability, contact Big Cat Tattoo and include the artist you are interested in, your tattoo concept, approximate size, preferred placement, and any useful references.
The convention requires tattoo clients to be at least 18 years old and to present a valid driver’s license, military ID, or other government-issued identification.
What to Bring to Your Convention Tattoo Appointment
Arrive rested, eat a full meal beforehand, and drink enough water throughout the day. Wear clothing that makes the tattoo placement easy to access without unnecessarily exposing other areas.
Bring your valid identification, payment method, reference images, and any appointment information provided by the shop. Tattoo prices are determined by the individual artists and are separate from admission to the convention.
Big Cat Tattoo may also have merchandise available during the weekend, so be sure to stop by the booth even when you are not getting tattooed.
See Big Cat Tattoo in Columbus, Georgia
The Fountain City Tattoo Expo 2026 gives tattoo collectors in Columbus, Fort Benning, and the surrounding region an opportunity to meet members of Big Cat Tattoo, explore new flash, discuss custom tattoo ideas, and connect with experienced Atlanta artists.
After the expo, clients can continue working with the team at Big Cat Tattoo’s Buckhead studio. The shop accepts appointments and walk-ins based on artist availability and provides free onsite client parking at its Atlanta location.
Come meet David Parrish, Kate Sharich, Danny Paul, Casey Hall, and Jade Rodrigues at the Fountain City Tattoo Expo from September 18–20, 2026.