“I hope people stay brutally honest with their inclinations,” says Gab Villacarlos, co-founder of Studio Amping.
For Gab, honesty is more than a virtue; it’s the driving force of art. It’s the foundation of how he creates and how he hopes others choose to live. In tattooing, as in any creative form, he believes it’s that honesty to one’s inclinations that shapes authentic expression.
At Studio Amping, that belief runs deep. It shapes the way artists approach their craft, how clients are welcomed, and how tattoos are treated — not simply as ink etched into skin, but as shared moments built on trust, connection, and expression.
A Space for Artists Who Didn’t Fit the Mold
When Gab first thought about his future as an artist, tattooing wasn’t in the picture. “I always knew I’d be drawing for a living, but not on skin,” he recalls. What changed was the realization that there were artists like him: skilled, passionate, but not at home in the conventional tattoo shop setting.
So he and his peers created their own. “We wanted a space that felt like ours,” Gab says. “Somewhere artists could exist freely, without having to conform.”
The result was Studio Amping, but even before its official opening, its essence was born. For two years, Gab turned his house into a tattoo studio. A cozy, lived-in space where creativity thrived. “Studio Amping still feels like that,” he shares. “A house. Homey. Comfortable. Less about the place, and more about the artists who fill it.”
More than ink on skin
Gab doesn’t view tattooing as a mechanical craft. To him, it’s layered, alive, and deeply human. “Shopkeeping is an art form. Tattooing is an art form. Even dealing with people—that’s art.”
He sees the body as a canvas, but more importantly, he sees people as collaborators in the creative process. “My art is mostly based on dealing with people,” he explains. For Gab, tattooing isn’t only about inking skin; it’s about listening, relating, and building a shared moment. It’s bleeding and healing, yes, but it’s also a connection, one that lives far beyond the session itself.
Flash as Expression
Part of Studio Amping’s creative identity lies in flash tattoos — original, pre-drawn designs that clients can choose from. Gab emphasizes they didn’t invent the concept, but they embraced it early on because they felt something was missing in the scene.
“At the time, we noticed a lack of original pieces from artists,” he explains. “Flash tattoos became our way of implying: this is what we want for you, this is cool. It’s not just an option, it’s an expression of who we are and what tattooing can be.”
A Community That Welcomes Curiosity
From the start, Studio Amping has been about welcoming everyone who walks through the door. Got a weird tattoo idea? Sure. Feel a little weird as a person? No problem. Curiosity is encouraged here, individuality is respected, and the artists are here to help you show that proudly.
“Here, we want people to keep questioning, to stay curious,” Gab says. “When people are honest with themselves and with their art, that’s when real expression happens.”
In many ways, Studio Amping is more than a tattoo studio; it’s a gathering place, a home for artists and clients alike, and a reminder that the best art begins with honesty.
Photography Kyrra Kho
