Lauren Toohey | Co-Owner & Artist
Lauren Toohey is a Pittsburgh-based tattooer, painter, and small business owner. With her business partner, they run Golden Gaia Tattoo, a private, art-forward studio located in the heart of Lawrenceville. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from Thiel College and is certified in illustration from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
After beginning her career in face and body painting, Lauren formally apprenticed in tattooing and has spent the past 14 years immersed in the tattoo industry.
A lifelong painter, her work is rooted in visionary art, drawing inspiration from spirituality, the teachings of psychedelic medicine, and the natural world. Her tattoos reflect this foundation, blending fine art sensibility with technical expertise.
Lauren specializes in soft watercolor illustrative realism—painterly, highly detailed tattoos with a vibrant, dynamic color palette. Her work often features plants, florals, and landscapes. She also creates bold neo-traditional pop culture tattoos, and is known for her expressive pet portraits, and brings extensive experience to complex coverups.
Golden Gaia Tattoo is designed to feel more like an intimate art gallery than a traditional tattoo shop. Lauren prioritizes client comfort, offering a calm, welcoming, and inclusive environment where every client is treated with care, respect, and intention. Creating a safe space is central to her practice, allowing clients to feel relaxed, supported, and confident throughout the tattooing experience.