COOL FRIENDS

Ash Aurich

By
Coolstuff Team
January 3, 2025

Meet Ash Aurich, an illustrator and tattoo artist whose work is infused with the precision of the Italian Renaissance masters. With a steady hand and an arts education from FIT, Ash pushes the lines of what we expect tattoos to be by challenging herself to grow as an artist through experimentation. We caught up with Ash to hear how her tattoo collection and illustration talent came together to launch her practice.

How did your career as a tattoo artist begin?

I was always into art for as long as I could remember. I went to art school and graduated with an art degree but had no idea what I wanted to do with it. During quarantine, I was alone with my thoughts (as we all were) and kept trying to figure out what to do with my life until I started watching Ink Master. I really enjoyed it and felt like that was something I could do. I never thought being a tattoo artist was an option for me, but by then I had a couple of tattoos so I’ve always had interest. I bought fake skin and a cheap machine, and just started practicing. It led to me getting an apprenticeship at a shop in Soho and it began from there.

Tell us about your design style!

My design style features a minimalist approach with a focus on fine lines and delicate shading.

What’s your favorite part about the New York tattoo artist community?

My favorite part about the NY tattoo artist community is how diverse it is. Also, the fact that the

What's the ideation process like for coming up with new tattoo ideas? Do you have a main source of inspiration for your designs?

I sometimes get inspiration from just scrolling through Pinterest or instagram, but I mainly come up with new tattoo ideas from art history, especially Renaissance art. When I’m going through a creative block, I’ll just go to a museum/gallery.

Do you have a favorite tattoo that you've ever created?

I honestly love every tattoo that I’ve done so it’s hard to choose just one. Though, I will say that I mostly enjoy creating tattoos that have a deep personal meaning for the client. Tattoos that tell a unique story or commemorate a significant life event are memorable.

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