The Thing: An arthaus blacklight bodypaint experience where you become the art on June 6

Bodypaint.Me is bringing a new kind of event to Charlotte. The Thing is an arthaus blacklight bodypaint experience where you become the art. It takes place Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 7 to 11 p.m., at Studio 1212, 1212 E 10th Street, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Admission is free, but bodypainting during the event will be on a tipping-based system. Refreshments are BYOB.

How It Works

• The Living Space: When you arrive, the room is already alive. Featured bodypainters will have spent the pre-doors hours transforming models into striking, fluid sculptures navigating the studio.
• The Entry Ritual: Participation is universal. Every single guest receives a swift, ceremonial bodypaint marking upon crossing the threshold. There are no spectators here; to enter the room is to enter the artwork.
• The Evolution: Once inside, you are free to move, connect, and interact. Multiple resident bodypainters will be stationed throughout the studio. Over the course of the night, you will migrate from painter to painter, layering color and texture onto your skin as the room’s collective energy shifts and grows. (Please tip the bodypainters.)
• The Sound: DJs will shape the atmosphere throughout the night with evolving sets tuned to the room’s energy, encouraging dance and movement as part of the creative flow.

Important To Know

• Absolute Consent: Photos are permitted, but you must ask and receive consent before shooting.
• Physical Boundaries: Enjoy the energy, respect the space. There is a strict no-touching policy without explicit, verbal permission.
• Paint Etiquette: The ceremonial entry marking is free for everyone. It’s your initiation into the artwork. After that, all additional bodypainting throughout the night operates on a tipping‑based system. Each painter sets their own rhythm and creative flow; guests are encouraged to tip generously for the evolving pieces that become part of their look. Only designated bodypainters may paint others. Guests are not permitted to bring or use their own paint, markers, or materials. This keeps the creative process cohesive, safe, and true to the event’s artistic vision.
• Expression & Attire: This is a judgment-free space of radical expression. Be as bold or as subtle with your appearance as you choose. For health, safety, and hygiene within the studio, bottoms are strictly required.