CHARACTERS WELCOME: Tattooed Mom, Philly International Sticker Art Annual Exhibition  

October 29, 2021 - June 1, 2022

Tattoed Mom (aka TMoms or Mom’s) is a uniquely iconic restaurant and bar that is “Philly’s officially unofficial museum of street art.” In addition to its adventurous menu and cocktails, the 2-floors that comprise TMoms are experiential and immersive in varying ways. “Upstairs @ TMoms” is described by co-founder Robert Perry, as “beautiful chaos.” Upstairs features 20 years of densely layered street art including tags, wheat pastes, art stickers, and yarn bombing. Every visible surface throughout the entire second floor has been extensively covered over by street art starting at the base of the stairwell, all the way up the stairs, onto the floor, walls, and ceiling. And it’s okay for an artist to overlap or place their work overtop someone else’s. It is a forever evolving experience. 

In 2012, to emulate the ongoing tradition whereby sticker artists gather Upstairs @ TMoms to meet, draw, and put up their work, Characters Welcome was born, an annual international sticker art show. In an interview with Conrad Benner (@streetsdept), Perry describes the concept behind the show, “To honor the strong hand drawn, character-based sticker culture of Philly, we call it Characters Welcome…the response was amazing—stickers from all over the world came pouring in. The first show was the biggest gathering ever of sticker artists in Philly and set the model as an event to meet, celebrates these little portable adhesive canvases, and raise money for local youth arts organizations.” And, “It’s home is Philly, the best sticker city in the world.”  

Due to COVID-19, Characters Welcome has been postponed. This exhibition @phlairportart, honors the show’s legacy until it can return in person at TMoms.