Ben Around Tattoos & Offbeat Gallery

I went to Ben Around for my second tattoo. A realistic spirit animal totem pole from a drawing I had found offline. All black and gray. I was referred to Andy for my appointment who quoted me for a four hour session for my thigh piece. He was very professional and was very laid back to talk to and joke to during my tattoo. After he made sure I knew all about the after care and told me not to hesitate calling if any problems occur. My fiancé days before had Ryan who did an awesome color wolf head tattoo on his forearm it turned out better than he thought. Overall the shop is very professional and pleasant to talk to. They give honest and great advice for your tattoo and placement. They are all true professionals in their craft. The price is reasonable for what you will be receiving and well worth it. :) I will be continuing to get all the rest of my pieces from them.

The interior is the best part about this place.
I went here with my best friend. We showed up very excited and interested in this shop. The receptionist was very kind. But, one of the artists, who didn’t introduce himself, came out to speak with us. We explained we wanted small matching tattoos. We have both been tattooed many times before. But, when we were discussing the design & the size he treated us rudely. After signing paperwork and going through all the motions then he told us the shop minimum was $ 100. Our tattoos were about the size of a quarter. $ 100 is outrageous for such a small tattoo. And after being spoken down to and tricked we felt it wasn’t worth it.
We’re giving it 2 stars and they both go to a tall bearded guy who came out later and was very kind and friendly. He lightened our mood. If you want a good experience getting tattooed, we’d recommend somewhere else.

After years of hemming and hawing, I got my first tattoo at Ben Around by Ben himself. I didn’t have a detailed drawing, but Ben turned it into a beautiful work of art that is exactly what I wanted. I will always get my tattoos here! Very professional & helpful staff. I love Ben Around Tattoos, and highly recommend it to everyone.

Got my fifth and sixth tattoos done at Ben Around last year and I’m really happy with the experience.
One is a permanent wedding band, and the other is my cat’s paw print, done from a clay cast of his actual paw. Not fancy, but the artist took her time to do them right. The place is clean, welcoming, and an overall good time. If I get more tats done, I’ll be sure to go back to Ben Around.

I went in last night for my 2^nd tattoo (my first at Ben Around) and I can say that I will never go anywhere else.
First, the facilities: it’s obvious that much thought went into the design of the gallery itself and it is clear the upkeep and cleanliness are very important. I felt completely comfortable being «at» Ben Around and I really enjoyed the overall experience. I never felt like just another customer and the careful attention to detail ensured that I did not feel like this was just another conveyer belt tattoo parlor.
Next, the work itself: I came in with a general idea of what I wanted and then allowed Ben to change and modify my plan based on what he thought would work best. I watched him do the same thing with my girlfriend’s tattoo and it came out well so I trusted his judgment and it paid off. The artwork itself is great and the final product was far better than what I had originally envisioned. I couldn’t be more satisfied by the final product.
Finally, the service: at every step of the process I dealt with people who were helpful, friendly, and enjoyable to be around. Molly — the woman who helped set me up — went out of her way to accommodate me and to help me feel comfortable. Ben was also very cool about allowing people to hang out while he was working on my tattoo. He’s a really nice guy — so nice in fact that I’m pretty sure one of my friends came by just to hang with him.
If you are going to be tattooed in the Charlottesville area, I think you are making a mistake if you don’t head to Ben Around.

I had a fantastic experience here. Ben was friendly, talented, gentle and fucking serious about his craft. I came in with an idea and he immediately grabbed a book off his shelf of mexican craft art through history. I trusted him with my arm and he did amazing things. He is really an artist and I love owning a piece of his original work. The whole atmosphere of this shop is great. Everyone is awesome, the apprentice Molly who set me up was fantastic, the place is super clean, and no detail is overlooked. Ben has the experience in this business and knows exactly how he likes to do it, and he runs a tight ship. I won’t go anywhere else again for my tattoos.

First of all, this place is very clean and friendly. From the first time that I stepped foot in the shop I was greeted with a smile and attention. I had the «pleasure» to get work done from Ben and let me tell you: there is no greater feeling when your new tattoo artist is just as exited about your tattoo as you. they always treat you with respect and value your opinion about the art. Right now I only have the outline done of my full sleeve but I can’t wait to get it finish. If you are in C’ville or adjacent areas DO NOT hesitate to get tattooed here. There is a reason they are the Number 1 tattoo shop in Charlottesville.