Ogden First Friday Art Stroll: Where Tattoo Studios Join the Art Scene

Most people think of an art walk as galleries, wine and paintings on white walls. In Ogden, Utah, it also means tattoo studios. The city's monthly First Friday Art Stroll regularly includes tattoo shops as official stops, putting tattoo artists alongside painters, sculptors and musicians as part of the downtown arts scene.

Here is how the Art Stroll works, the tattoo studios that have taken part, and why events like this matter for tattooing as an art form.

What is Ogden's First Friday Art Stroll?

The First Friday Art Stroll is a free monthly event organised by Ogden City Arts. On the first Friday of each month, usually from 6pm to 9pm, venues across downtown Ogden open their doors to show work by local artists.

According to the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, stops are spread across areas including:

• Historic 25th Street
• Washington Boulevard
• Union Station
• The Junction
• Newgate Mall
• The Nine Rails Creative District

Visitors can expect gallery exhibitions, featured artist showcases in studios and cafes, live music, pop-up exhibitions and hands-on activities. Maps are available at participating venues, and the city's free OGX bus service makes it easier to get between stops.

Tattoo studios on the Art Stroll

Tattoo shops have become a regular part of the Art Stroll lineup.

Sacred Rose Tattoo Sanctuary (2023)

In May 2023, the Standard-Examiner reported that Sacred Rose Tattoo Sanctuary on Washington Boulevard had joined the Art Stroll as a new stop. The studio showcased the work of six local tattoo artists, with owner Rachel Rose Manning as the featured artist.

Alchemy Tattoo Studio and Historic Tattoo Studio (2026)

For the May 2026 Art Stroll, the Standard-Examiner reported that two tattoo studios on Historic 25th Street were among the featured venues:

• Alchemy Tattoo Studio, 119 25th Street, featuring mixed-media artist Gisella Munoz, who works with pen, coloured pencil, yarn and paint.
• Historic Tattoo Studio, 171 25th Street, featuring tattoo artist Dave Carter, who planned to sell art and prints and offer tattoos during the evening.

Having a featured artist at a tattoo studio who works in yarn and paint is a good example of how blurred the line between "tattoo art" and "art" has become.

The Marshall N. White Community Center

The same Art Stroll included a pop-up at the Marshall N. White Community Center, which has hosted Art Stroll events showcasing local creativity.

The centre carries a significant name. Marshall N. White was an Ogden police detective and civil rights leader who served as president of Ogden's first NAACP branch. He was shot in the line of duty in October 1963 and died three days later. The original community centre, named in his honour, opened in 1968, and Ogden City describes it as the first building in Utah named after a person of colour. A new Marshall N. White Community Center opened in 2025.

Why tattoo studios belong at art events

For most of the 20th century, tattooing sat outside the art world. Shops were associated with sailors, ports and back streets, and galleries rarely took tattoo artists seriously. That has changed dramatically.

• Tattoo artists are trained artists. Many have backgrounds in illustration, painting or design, and a strong drawing portfolio is essential to getting an apprenticeship.
• Studios double as galleries. Flash sheets, paintings and prints on studio walls are artworks in their own right.
• Art walks lower the barrier. Walking into a tattoo shop can feel intimidating. An open evening with art on the walls lets people meet artists, see their portfolios and ask questions with no pressure to book.
• Local studios gain visibility among people who might never have searched for a tattoo artist online.

Tips for visiting tattoo studios at an art walk

• Look at portfolios, not just the walls. Ask to see healed work in the style you like.
• Ask questions. Art walk evenings are one of the best times to chat to an artist about ideas, placement and pricing. Our guide to how much a tattoo costs will help you understand quotes.
• Do not feel pressured. A good artist will be happy for you to take a card and think about it.
• If you get tattooed on the night, make sure you have eaten, have not been drinking, and can follow aftercare properly. Read our first tattoo guide first.
• Buy prints and flash. Supporting artists does not always mean getting a tattoo.

Attending the next Art Stroll

The Art Stroll runs monthly, and venues change from month to month. Check the official page at ogdencity.gov/artstroll for the latest map and featured artists before you go.

Not near Ogden? Many cities host similar monthly art walks, and tattoo conventions are another way to see lots of artists in one place. For more on how tattooing became part of mainstream culture, read how World War II changed tattoo culture.

Sources: Standard-Examiner reports on the May 2026 Art Stroll and May 2023 Art Stroll; Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce; ABC4 Utah on Marshall N. White. Venues and times change, so confirm details with Ogden City Arts.