Inspiring Conversations with Khali Davis of Goth Girl Tattoos

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khali Davis.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I knew I wanted to make art in some way for a living, I just didn’t know what that would be. One day, my mom had her favorite channel, TLC, playing in the living room. LA Ink was on and it clicked for me then. I told my mom I could be a tattoo artist and she said “absolutely not.” Unfortunately for her, I’m stubborn and had found my way to make art my career. I did my research and concluded that the tattoo industry is a sacred trade passed down from mentor to apprentice once they’ve proven themselves through hard work, respect, and patience. Tattooing is an industry that’s tough to get into for a reason; to weed out the people who respect the trade, its history, and its pioneers enough to put in the work to earn your spot from people who just think it’s a cool gig. If you’re willing to go through whatever it takes, within reason, tattooing will make it worth your while.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I entered the tattoo industry in 2016 at 22 years old. It was far from easy and, in my personal experience, exploitive. There’s a difference between telling the apprentice to scrub the toilets and take out the trash versus berating them and making their journey as difficult as possible. During my time as an apprentice, I was taken advantage of, belittled, scolded, and used well beyond the “traditional” hard time apprentices get. You have to have a thick skin in the industry and I had no choice but to develop one if I wanted to make it. It’s a long story that I won’t go into out of respect for the artists I worked with along the way. If I had to give any new artists advice on entering the industry, I’d tell them to run at the first sign of mistreatment. There are thousands of tattoo shops out there and you’ll eventually find one. They might poke fun at you or pull a harmless prank, but not to the extent where you question your self worth. Find a shop that will treat you like a person while teaching you how to become a great tattooer and artist. My story is sadly common, especially as a woman, but times are changing for the better it seems. Don’t let anyone stop you from following your dreams, just know when it’s time to walk away and find somewhere else unlike I did.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Goth Girl Tattoos?
I’m a professional black and grey tattoo artist located in Gahanna, Ohio. I’m known for stipple shading and creepy cute work. I’m most proud of the clientele I’ve built. I left my apprenticeship with no clients and have since built an incredible, diverse clientele that can feel comfortable at my studio regardless of who they are. What sets me apart from others is the experience I give my clients. At Goth Girl Tattoos, you’ll always feel safe, heard, free to be yourself, and seen. I won Best Tattoo Shop in Gahanna 2026 from Quality Business Awards for my dedication to my clients’ comfort, safety, quality of work, education, and trust in the community. I got into tattooing to help people like me feel better in the skin they’re in while the world may tell us that we’re “too much” or “not enough” at the same time. Being able to help people feel more like themselves and even help them heal their trauma with my art is what I do it for.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I was dealt a bad hand when I entered the industry with my apprenticeship but, because of my experience as an apprentice and getting tattooed, I learned who I don’t want to emulate and how I don’t want to treat my clients. My work experience in customer service since I started working at 16 years old has taught me bedside manner, etiquette, and professionalism. In my personal life, going to therapy has taught me how to appropriately address clients and be able to hold space for their trauma and life story and be able to provide the ear they need to safely express themselves. Good or bad, all of my experience has brought me here to make Goth Girl Tattoos have the positive reputation it does and I couldn’t be more grateful for my clients making my dream possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gothgirltattoos.com
• Instagram: @gothgirltattoos
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/gothgirltattoo