By Josh Lyford

In the world of tattoo conventions, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. Worcester tattoo artist Miles Nozzolillo plans to change all that, though, this coming August. Nozzolillo explained that he “…wanted to do something for the artists,” saying that many of the more traditional tattoo conventions of the past had lost track of the art itself.

Nozzolillo should know, too, having been a part of the tattoo world since Massachusetts legalized tattooing in November of 2000. “I stumbled into tattooing,” he says. “I was working a factory gig, walked into a shop and started apprenticing.” The shop was not the environment he was looking for and Nozzolillo decided to head down to Carlton, Virginia, where he started an apprenticeship at American Tattoo. “I got the real deal, I learned needle making. You don’t see that anymore,” he explains. Nozzolillo would spend two years there, first as an apprentice spending his days working construction and his afternoons and evening tattooing, then as a full-fledged tattoo artist. His skills honed, he moved back to Massachusetts and opened a shop in Southbridge. Two years ago, he opened his ship Tattoo Project on Highland Street in Worcester.

In the early days at Tattoo Project, it was just Nozzolillo. Eventually, the shop grew to include four full time booths. He recalls, “The hardest part was finding the right crew.” The current crew ~ Will Self, Seth Campbell, Jeremy Lee and Nozzolillo himself ~ all specialize in distinct and complimentary tattooing styles.

Nozzolillo decided that he wanted to start a tattoo expo that would be artist-centric and would be a good way for the artists to meet one another: Art Riot was born. Not only will the show help the artists, but Nozzolillo also plans on auctioning off some of the pieces being created and donating the proceeds to a yet-to-be-determined art charity. These pieces include three canvases that several tattoo artists are collaborating on, each adding something unique, as well as a giant sheet of flash art Nozzolillo is creating out of four-inch squares of flash design contributed by each artist.

The Expo, running from August 12-14, will feature more than eighty tattoo artists as well as some other tattoo related presentations including Henna art and tattoo removal. The bar at the Boxborough Holiday Inn where the Expo is being held will have live bands (including Nozzolillo’s father’s band, Nuzzy) performing all day Saturday.

Whether you’re new to the world of tattoo or sporting ink on more than 50% of your body, make sure to check out the Art Riot Tattoo Expo ~ and Tattoo Project on Highland Street. For more info, head to Artriotexpo.com.