Dozens of Toronto's best tattoo artists are joining forces to put on a first-of-its-kind event this week, and it's all for a good cause.

There will be over 40 Toronto tattoo artists in a room for the upcoming Intermission Art Show, which kicks off this Friday.

Created by the teams at Queen West's Okey Doke Tattoo Shop and Delete After Death Tattoo in The Junction, the Intermission Art Show is set to take over the Welcome Market Space (which Okey Doke is located on the second floor of) for a week, displaying original works from an impressive selection of local tattoo artists.

From paintings to prints and, yes, tattoos, you'll be able to discover a host of works at the market, with 30 per cent of proceeds from each sale set to be donated to the Sick Kids Foundation.

"The idea came about to create community amongst tattoo shops and show support for each other," a representative from The Okey Doke tells blogTO.

With January typically being a slower month for many tattoo shops and artists, they say that the art show "was inspired by bringing some good energy and excitement to the tattoo community in the city."

 

 

 

 

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For Andrei, a resident artist at Delete after Death, participating in the show is an opportunity not only to collaborate with fellow artists on non-tattoo art pieces.

"I wanted to participate in this art show with my friend Sewp, [because] we've been talking about collaborating on an art piece — not just tattooing — and create something that tickled our minds in ways tattooing couldn't," he tells blogTO.

 

 

 

 

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The result of that collaboration is a large-scale original work they've titled 'Hot for Teacher by Van Halen' ("because that song rules," Sewp explains in an Instagram caption), which, along with dozens of other works from their contemporaries, will be on display during the show.

Beyond opportunities for creative expansion, though, Andrei also says that the market is a chance for him to support a cause that's close to his heart.

"I come from a poor country, and when I was a child I lived and saw how children are, more often than we want to admit, forgotten," he tells blogTO. "It's a small helping hand, but it's something."

Jess Chen, another artist who'll be showing off her works at the show, tells blogTO that "events like this are crucial for showcasing the diverse talents of tattoo artists."

"While we deeply love our craft, our artistic expressions extend far beyond the skin," she notes. "Personally, painting was my foundation in high school and university, with tattooing emerging later in my artistic journey, so exhibiting my work beyond tattooing is essential for my continued growth as an artist."

For Jess, too, the Sick Kids Foundation is a cause close to her heart.

"Growing up downtown, Sick Kids was just minutes away from my apartment on Elm Street," she tells blogTO. "I witnessed firsthand the incredible work they do for children and would be proud to donate all the proceeds from my painting to their foundation."

For Okey Doke tattoo artist Janey Tang, the art show is an opportunity to celebrate "diversity in art, bringing together tattoo artists from different corners of the world and connecting us in such a creative and vibrant way."

"This show feels like a melting pot of styles, cultures, and perspectives, and I think that's what makes it so special," she tells blogTO. "It's a chance to explore and celebrate the unique intersection of tattoos and fine art."

The whole thing kicks off with an epic opening night event, supported by Pabst Canada and the Shameful Tiki, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, but if you can't make it then, you'll still have plenty of chances to check it all out.

The exhibition is set to run between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. every day between Jan. 18 and 25, so you can check out some seriously awesome works you won't find anywhere else and support the Sick Kids Foundation while you're at it.

The Welcome Market and Okey Doke Tattoo Shop are located at 938 Queen West.