Life & Work with Toby Gehrlich of Italian Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Toby Gehrlich

Hi Toby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I would have to say it started with receiving my first tattoo at the age of 20. Up until then I was an artistically inclined kid, but didn’t have a feasible direction to focus on. Until I was sitting in the chair for the first time and something clicked in me, while I was looking at all of the Flash and art covering every square inch of the shops walls. Something inside of me said you could do this, before my tattoo was finished I had already berated the artist with all the normal questions of how do you get into tattooing? How would I go about getting an apprenticeship? Do you offer apprenticeships? From there it was a three-year process of getting my foot in the door, building my portfolio with sketches and drawings and shopping it around from parlor to parlor. One day out of the blue a shop contacted me asking me if I was still looking for an apprenticeship. From there its been a wild ride. A lot of hard work, sacrifice, and remaining open to learn has served me well.

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 wouldn’t say it was an easy Road as much as I met with resistance on my path. In reflection , most of the resistance that I experienced was internal. I’ve had the opportunity and honor to meet many people that have encountered and overcame true struggle. I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many fantastic people and get to share in there stories through my work.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For the last 24 years I’ve been a professional tattoo artist and fine artist working in a variety of styles and disciplines. My personal work focuses on the metaphysic and esoteric connection between the inner self and natural world.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The people are the best part of the city, hands down! Progressive, thoughtful, with true grit.
Columbus feels like a large small town, I forget I’m in a city.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Toby_g_art / @art_of_toby
• Facebook: Toby Gehrlich / Toby_g_art