DC
2026.
Bring the beginning of an idea.
You do not need to arrive with a finished tattoo design.
Bring a photograph. Architecture. A damaged surface. A symbol. A memory. A piece of machinery. A geometric form. Something from history. Something you cannot stop thinking about.
Those fragments become raw material for an original composition built around the person and the movement of the body.
OF SHOW.
UberDerek has previously received Best of Show at the DC Tattoo Expo, along with multiple Best of Day awards. In October 2026 he returns to the Washington D.C. area for a new group of original tattoo projects.
What I want to create.
Abstract Tattoos
Fragmentation, movement, negative space, controlled disorder and unexpected composition.
Watercolor + Painterly
Color movement, brush-like marks, texture and expressive gestures inside a deliberate structure.
Geometric Tattoos
Geometry used as architecture inside the tattoo instead of decoration placed on top.
Bold One-Day Pieces
Strong original concepts designed around a full convention session.
Large-Scale Projects
Sleeves, backs and larger compositions that can begin in DC and continue later.
Unusual References
Architecture, ruins, machinery, old photographs, textures, paintings and objects that were never meant to become tattoos.
DC can be the first session.
A convention appointment does not have to mean a small convention tattoo.
Sleeves, back pieces and other multi-session projects can begin during the DC Tattoo Expo and continue during future sessions in Salzburg or another scheduled U.S. or international location.
Large projects are planned as complete compositions so the artwork can move naturally across the body rather than becoming a collection of disconnected pieces.
Idea to skin.
Send the idea
Tell me the concept, placement, approximate size and what brought the idea into your head.
I review it
I personally review whether the project fits the work I want to create during the DC weekend.
Build direction
If it fits, we discuss artistic direction, size, placement and session requirements.
Reserve it
Once the project and date are agreed on, a deposit secures the appointment.
Create it in DC
The tattoo is developed specifically for you instead of copied from an existing tattoo.
DC Tattoo FAQ.
When will UberDerek be tattooing in Washington D.C.?
October 16–18, 2026 during the 15th Annual DC Tattoo Expo.
Where is the DC Tattoo Expo?
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC · Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202.
Can I book an abstract tattoo in DC?
Yes. Abstract projects are particularly welcome, from bold one-day work to larger multi-session compositions.
Can I book watercolor or painterly tattoo work?
Yes. Watercolor and painterly tattooing are central parts of Derek's work and are often combined with abstraction and geometry.
Can I start a sleeve or back piece at the expo?
Yes. Larger projects can begin in DC and continue during later sessions.
Do I need a finished design?
No. A story, symbol, photograph, texture, memory or general direction is enough to begin.
How do I request an appointment?
Use the project request form and include your concept, placement, approximate size, preferred timing and Washington D.C. as the location.
Your DC tattoo
does not exist yet.
Bring the beginning of the idea. The rest gets built from there.