Siabhan Downs

A longtime patron of the arts, Siabhan Downs recognized early on that tattoo artists were some of the most wildly talented creators in the world, and has dedicated her career to helping artists grow in their craft and reach their professional goals.

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Before entering the industry she earned two undergraduate degrees from West Virginia University, and she spent years organizing fundraisers for a local charity where she concentrated on showcasing and promoting local talent from DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

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In 2008 Siabhan discovered the subversive world of tattooing through a friend in his fledgling years as an artist. Before long she was managing his studio and quickly recognized the need for management and representation of artists in the tattoo industry. By 2012 she leaned in and began pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration. That same year she founded Damascus Tattoo Company (DTC) with Robby Latos and Jon Roberts.

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For her, part of the mission was to create an environment where artists could freely create unencumbered by the strains of running a business. Siabhan has witnessed firsthand that when artists are given the ability to focus solely on their craft, their talent flourishes. Always in the forefront of her mind is long-term sustainability and financial planning for each artist with whom she works. By taking the administrative and management tasks off their plate, artists are enabled to focus on their designs and almost immediately see their art jump to the next level.

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By 2014, strapped with her MBA and motivated with a strategy for growth, Siabhan and Robby hit the convention circuit spending the next few years traveling at home and abroad. Siabhan quickly recognized that adequate representation and management for artists was non-existent in the industry, and was inspired to establish an artist management business that focused on convention management and consulting for artists and their studios. 

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She learned that while the conventions allowed artists time and space to connect with one another, their jam packed schedules made it difficult for them to glean the education and tools they were seeking. Today, she feels conventions have begun to underscore how the popularization and availability of tattoos have corrupted and commercialized the craft. Tattooing is losing its edge, becoming a mainstream consumable in pop culture. Determined to hone in on what set tattooing apart as an art form, Siabhan began working one on one with a select few artists to help them establish and reach their business goals.

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Then came Covid, and everything changed. The convention circuit was shut down entirely, shops across the US were closed for months, and artists were missing their connection to their art and one another. The time of isolation and introspection bore a new idea, in a text conversation between friends; one that carried forward the desirable aspects of tattoo conventions while focusing on all that they lacked.

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A more intimate setting was needed, where presenter and pupil share the same floor, the agenda can flow based on attendees’ needs, the floor is open to any topic of conversation, and artists can have 1:1 discussions and critiques with their peers.

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An educational series that felt more like breaking free from the confines of an industry straying from its roots, friends and like-minded artists enjoying each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere. In 2021 Spring Break 99 was born, with Siabhan, Robby and Mike Perry banding together to deliver a unique concept to artists dedicated to evolving their craft and refusing to conform.

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Spring Break 99 highlights the need for long term business goals for artists, and it’s an opportunity for artists to seek value and growth, to establish and gain the tools for meeting goals in an intimate setting. It represents Siabhan’s many years in the industry, her passion for art and specifically the art and talent of tattooers. 

 

Career Timeline