3/31/2025: Fireside Chat with Doy Gardner, Black 13 Tattoo

Doy Gardner, a South Alabama native, moved to Nashville in 1999 to study music at Belmont University. His passion for tattooing began in his teenage years, inspired by artists featured in tattoo magazines. At the age of 20, he started traveling out of state for extensive tattoo work, deepening his appreciation for the art.

After six years of touring as a musician, Doy began questioning the longevity of life as a full-time musician for hire. He had always dreamed of owning something of his own and during downtime on the road, he brainstormed business ideas—torn between opening a tattoo shop or a produce market. But one thing became clear: the tattoo industry needed a fresh approach. As a non-tattooer, Doy recognized gaps in the industry—client experience often took a back seat, and established artists lacked a voice and true comfort in their work environments. He saw an opportunity to reimagine how a shop operated, prioritizing both artists and clients.

In 2008, he co-founded Black 13 Tattoo in downtown Nashville’s “Cummins Station”, setting a new standard for the industry and quickly establishing itself as a premier studio. Over the last 16+ years, the shop has grown to house 11 full-time artists and has been voted “Best Tattoo Parlor” in The Nashville Scene for 14 consecutive years. In 2021, Doy relocated the shop to East Nashville, continuing its evolution.
With the success of Black 13, Doy has expanded into residential and commercial real estate while also recently returning to life on the road as a touring musician.