Though it's highly dramatic with orchestrated fights and elementary-grade insults, Ink Master is an intense and entertaining competition show that requires immense skill and talent when it comes to art on the skin. The show proves that many can tattoo, but only some can come out on top and prove to master multiple styles and techniques of tattooing.
With multiple spin-off shows and an almost decade-long run of 13+ seasons, it's safe to say that the show is insanely popular in the tattoo world, with the grand prize being $100,000 with a feature in the prestigious Inked Magazine. There have been over a dozen winners over the years, but many fans wonder where these lucky winners are today.
Shane O'Neill
Shane was a self-taught artist that had already been tattooing for 15 years at the time of the show's premiere in 2012. As the first-ever winner of Ink Master, many fans wonder what he's up to today.
At this point in time, O'Neill is the owner of Infamous Tattoo located in Middletown, Delaware, and continues to tattoo mainly portraits. Though he's pretty inactive on Instagram, he has amassed around 60,000 followers and clearly keeps busy with his appointment-only clients.
Steve Tefft
Steve was the winner of season 2 and even returned as a coach. However, he also returned for Ink Master: Redemption to make it up to an unhappy human canvas, and many fans found him a bit annoying with his many rivalries.
Despite what fans may think of him, there's no doubt he's doing well these days and holding his own. Today, he is the owner of 12 Tattoos shop located in Groton, CT, and still pulling out undoubtedly amazing designs.
Joey Hamilton
As the first season to feature a human canvas jury, Joey's fate was in the hand of the canvases, and he came out on top in the finale. Though he was up against Tatu Baby and Jime in the finale, many fans favored Hamilton, not only for his artistry but for his humble and kind demeanor and overall passion for the craft.
Joey is now married with a child and he is also the co-owner of Revolt Tattoos in Las Vegas with fellow Ink Master Star, Sausage. To see the Ink Master legacy carry on in a whole new shop is something that warms fans' hearts to this day.
Scott Marshall
Throughout the competition, Scott mainly laid low but continually knocked out killer pieces. Marshall ended up coming out on top and surviving elimination against Sausage and Matti in the finale.
For a while, he would post his best pieces on Instagram and he worked at a shop called Roselle Tattoo located in Roselle, IL. Unfortunately, Scott unexpectedly passed away in 2015 just one year after his big win, and fans will forever remember his legacy and his mark on the tattoo world.
Jason Clay Dunn
Jason is a primarily Japanese-style tattoo artist who competed in season 3 and eventually won season 5 of Ink Master up against tattoo legend, Cleen Rock One. Though many fans didn't expect him to win over Cleen, it's undeniable that he was a very talented artist that deserved to be in the finale, despite his beef with other contestants, but mainly Josh.
Fans used to find Jason at Tattoo Alchemy in Montclair, CA, where the shop specializes in Asian artwork, American Traditional, and black and gray custom work. However, Jason recently decided to step away from the traditional shop atmosphere and instead take on personal commission pieces via appointment forms on his website.
Dave Kruseman
Dave was the winner of season 6, also known as the Masters vs. Apprentice season twist. The American Traditional specialist was also the first to win an additional prize, a brand new Dodge Challenger, next to the cash prize and feature in Inked Magazine
Kruseman is now a husband and father and works at Old Line Tattoo located in Hagerstown, Maryland. The tattoo artist has amassed over 100K followers on Instagram, as he is still a big name in the tattoo game.
Anthony Michaels
The incredibly talented Anthony has always been applauded for his humble talent and clear skill at the craft. The fact that he not only won the show but returned to coach and help out artists showed his heart for tattooing.
Anthony is now located in Tucson, AZ, and works at tattoo and piercing shop Twenty Five Twelve. He still specializes in mainly black and gray portraits and is frequently featured on Inked Magazine's social media accounts.
Ryan Ashley
Ryan Ashley is undoubtedly a fan favorite with her unique style of ornamental tattoos. Though Ink Master faced some controversy because of how long it took for a female to get to the finale, it was clear from the very start that she would be tough to beat, as the judges rarely had any major critiques for her during the challenges.
From what fans can tell on her social media, she is not currently a part of a tattoo studio, but rather taking appointments for commission pieces directly from her personal website. The female winner has amassed over 1 million followers on Instagram and is still considered one of the most popular and talented winners of all time.
Old Town Ink
Though fans don't typically enjoy the group-themed seasons, many found themselves growing fond of Old Town Ink, which consists of two artists, Bubba Irwin and DJ Tambe. DJ went on to win Ink Master back-to-back and even return as a coach, clearly making him one of the most respected younger tattoo artists in the business.
Today, you can find DJ at Bad Apple Tattoo in Las Vegas and Bubba at Nashville's Branded Tattoo Company as the owner. However, fans need not worry about the fate of Old Town Ink, as Bubba is still the co-owner of the Scottsdale and Mesa locations in Arizona.
Joshua Payne
Josh was a part of DJ's team in the 10th season of Ink Master, and he was a major threat from the start. Though he was portrayed as a stuck-up loudmouth, it was clear from the very beginning that he would be tough to beat, as he was already relatively well-known in the tattoo space.
The season 10 winner is currently located in Denver, Colorado, and works for the Long Live Tattoo Collective shop. Payne still specializes in mainly Japanese-inspired tattooing styles and colorwork, though he has a diverse portfolio on his Instagram page.