At its core, the Richmond Tattoo and Arts Convention is a celebration of art, creativity, and community. This year, we are thrilled to have Wesley Canon displaying some of his incredible Hollywood movie props.
Founder of Hollywood History Online, Wesley has dedicated his life to collecting physical pieces of film and television history. From Harry Potter, to Alien, to The Dark Crystal, his collection of movie memorabilia is a treasure trove for all ages. He’s been a part of our convention community the past two years as an attendee, and this year we’re partnering with him to bring a little movie magic to this year’s convention.
Mask worn on screen by Tom Holland
Wesley’s interest in collecting started at the age of 17, all thanks to an unexpected gift during a family game of "Dirty Santa" (White Elephant). Unwrapping that first movie prop hooked him instantly, sparking a passion to search for film and television treasures. That search led him straight to an exclusive, invite-only forum where movie insiders traded props. They let Wesley in, and he dove headfirst into the community. From that moment on, Wesley was fully immersed in the secret world of Hollywood history, and he’s never looked back since.
Wesley Cannon and rapper 2 Chainz
Wesley’s love for Hollywood didn’t stop there. At age 25, he caught the acting bug on the set of a Puppet Master movie. Since then, he’s shared the screen with rapper 2 Chainz on the hit show Most Expensivest, starred in multiple movies, appeared on the Sci-Fi Channel, Netflix's Amazing Interiors and may soon be announcing a new major reality TV series…
In 2010, Wesley founded Hollywood History Online. Since then, his collection has grown into an archive of treasures from cinema's most iconic films and shows across every genre. From Edward Scissorhands' scissorhands to an $80,000+ Thor’s hammer, original Nightmare Before Christmas puppets, and rare artifacts from Star Wars and classic horror films, his collection is a film lover's absolute dream.
For this year’s convention, Wesley is opening up his personal vault and presenting a display of some of his favorite items in the downstairs ballroom. When you stop by his booth, you can see these legendary pieces for yourself and just maybe bring one home with you for the right price... Plus, meet a very special guest, Obie, Wesley’s beloved 6-year-old squirrel monkey!
Wesley is no stranger to our convention. He’s spent the last two years roaming the floors and bidding on some of our Live Art for Charity canvases (he walked away with a custom painting of co-host Ryan Ashley by artist Nico Cathcart in 2024!). Last year, he and his wife Jessica took it to the next level, staying with us on site at the convention hotel, The DoubleTree by Hilton in Midlothian.
According to Wesley, it completely transformed the weekend:
"Last year we did it right because we stayed in that hotel. I told my wife, 'This is it. There's no better way.' That's where the fun happens. Everybody is friendly, there's no judgment, and you get to truly connect with the artists and guests after hours."
Make sure to stop by the Hollywood History Online booth, say hello to Wesley, Jessica, and Obie while you check out some of the coolest movie history on the planet!
