DC Tattoo Artist 2026
Original abstract, watercolor and geometric tattoo work at the 15th Annual DC Tattoo Expo.
Back to DC.
DC is not just another stop on the calendar. Derek's work has previously received Best of Show at the DC Tattoo Expo, along with multiple Best of Day awards.
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.
I use those fragments as raw material and build an original tattoo composition around the person and the movement of the body.
References are a starting point, not a blueprint.
Abstract tattooing without the copy machine.
Derek Entenmann, known internationally as UberDerek, is an American-born tattoo artist and visual artist based in Salzburg, Austria, working throughout Europe and the United States.
His work combines abstract art, watercolor and painterly marks, geometric structure, sketch energy, blackwork, fragmentation and fine-art influences.
Each project is developed as an original composition for the client and the body it will live on rather than a reproduction of somebody else's tattoo.
Returning to a place with history.
UberDerek has previously won Best of Show at the DC Tattoo Expo. 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 rather than decoration pasted 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 US 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 the project and whether it fits the work I want to create during the DC weekend.
Build the direction
If it is a good fit, we discuss artistic direction, size, placement and session requirements.
Reserve the appointment
Once the project and date are agreed on, a deposit secures the convention appointment.
Create it in DC
The final tattoo is developed specifically for you rather than copied from an existing tattoo.
More than one style.
The strongest projects often live somewhere between categories.
DC Tattoo FAQ.
When will UberDerek be tattooing in the Washington DC area?
October 16–18, 2026, at the 15th Annual DC Tattoo Expo.
Where is the 2026 DC Tattoo Expo?
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC - Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, VA 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 a watercolor tattoo in DC?
Yes. Watercolor and painterly tattooing are an important part of Derek's work and are often combined with abstraction, geometry and sketch-based elements.
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 tattoo design?
No. A story, symbol, image, texture, memory or general direction is enough to begin.
How do I request an appointment?
Use the DC consultation link and include your concept, placement, approximate size, references and preferred convention day.
Your DC Tattoo Does Not Exist Yet
Bring the beginning of the idea. We will create the rest together.