It was 2016. The tension in the Ink Master finale was thick enough to clog a tattoo machine. When Dave Navarro finally shouted her name, the industry shifted. Ryan Ashley Malarkey hadn't just won a reality show; she’d kicked down a door that had been bolted shut for seven seasons. She was the first woman to take the title, and honestly, the win felt like a long time coming for anyone who’d been paying attention to the "women’s alliance" that season.
But winning a TV show is one thing. Staying relevant in an industry that eats its own is another.
Since that $100,000 check cleared, Ryan’s life has been a whirlwind of high-stakes judging, massive business moves, and some pretty heavy personal shifts that haven't always made the headlines. If you've ever wondered if she’s still as good as the hype suggested, or where she even tattoos these days, here is the real story.
The Fashion School Secret to Her Success
Most people look at a Ryan Ashley tattoo and see "jewelry." They see lace. They see something that looks like it belongs in a Victorian queen’s dowry.
What they don't see is the five years she spent in New York City's garment district. Before she ever touched a coil machine, Ryan was a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She wasn't just drawing; she was designing beadwork, intricate lace patterns, and embroidery for private labels.
That’s her secret weapon.
Most tattooers learn to draw for the skin. Ryan learned to design for the body. There’s a difference. Her understanding of how fabric drapes over a curve is why her "lace" tattoos don't look like flat stickers—they look like they’re actually hanging off the client's limb. It’s an anatomical approach to ornamentation.
Life After the Win: From Pennsylvania to Colorado
After the show, things got big, fast. She didn't just go back to her shop, The Strange and Unusual, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. She became a face of the franchise. You’ve probably seen her on Ink Master: Angels or Grudge Match. By 2022, she was back on the main stage as a permanent judge for Season 14 and 15, sitting alongside guys like DJ Tambe and Nikko Hurtado.
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But the biggest move was geographical.
In 2019, Ryan headed West. She landed in Grand Junction, Colorado, and helped build Elysium Studios. If you’ve seen photos of the place, it doesn't look like a tattoo shop. It looks like a cathedral crossed with a high-end art gallery. Marble floors, baroque columns—it’s the physical manifestation of her aesthetic.
The Personal Side (And That 2024 Update)
For a long time, Ryan and fellow tattooer Arlo DiCristina were the ultimate industry power couple. They got married in a super private, "just us" ceremony in 2019. By May 2020, they welcomed their son, Atheus.
Honestly, it looked like the perfect artistic union.
However, life isn't a reality show script. In May 2024, Ryan shared on her Instagram that she and Arlo were going through a divorce. It was a rare, vulnerable moment from someone who usually keeps her public image polished to a high shine. Even through that, she’s remained a resident artist at Elysium, proving that the work—and the art—stays the priority.
Is Ryan Ashley Malarkey Actually "Good"?
There’s always a subset of "traditional" tattooers who roll their eyes at reality TV stars. They’ll say, "She only does one style," or "It’s just fine lines that won't age well."
Let’s be real: fine-line black and gray is hard. If you mess up a single bead in a chandelier tattoo, the whole thing looks lopsided. Ryan’s technical application is remarkably consistent. She’s one of the few artists who can pull off "organic" beading that actually follows the muscle structure.
Does it age differently than a bold American Traditional eagle? Yeah, of course. Everything does. But the "Ryan Ashley style" has become a literal genre in the industry now. Every shop in America has had a client walk in with a screenshot of her work asking for "something like this."
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How to Get a Tattoo from Ryan Today
If you’re thinking about booking a piece, be ready to wait. And save up.
She works strictly by appointment at Elysium Studios. She doesn't do walk-ins. She doesn't really do "small" tattoos anymore either. If you’re coming to her, you’re coming for the full Ryan Ashley experience: the filigree, the jewels, the deep black-and-gray contrast.
Actionable Advice for Collectors:
- Follow the Newsletter: She often announces booking windows via her personal site or Instagram stories rather than a permanent open-booking policy.
- Think Large Scale: Her style needs "breathing room" on the skin to keep the details from blurring over time. Think sternum pieces, thigh pieces, or full sleeves.
- Trust the Artist: Ryan is known for being very specific about what works. If she tells you a certain placement won't work for lace, listen to her. That fashion background isn't just for show.
Ryan’s journey from a fashion designer in NYC to the most recognizable face in modern tattooing wasn't a fluke. It was a calculated move by someone who understood that the tattoo industry was hungry for something more feminine, more intricate, and—dare we say it—a little bit more "strange and unusual."
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Whether she’s judging the next generation of artists on Paramount+ or sitting behind the needle in Colorado, her influence on the "look" of modern tattooing is undeniable. She didn't just win Ink Master; she outlasted the hype.
To get the most out of a high-end tattoo experience like Ryan’s, start by curating a mood board of "ornamental realism" but leave room for her to customize the flow to your specific anatomy.