Plot Synopsis

A group of the nation's best tattoo artists -- 10 competitors in Season 1; 16 artists in Seasons 2-5 & 7; and 18 contestants in Season 6 -- compete in elimination challenges as they vie for a grand prize that includes $100,000 cash and an editorial feature in the tattoo magazine "Inked." Challenges focus on different tattooing techniques, such as shading, line and proportion, and styles including photorealism, Tribal, American traditional, and pin-up, testing the artists' technical skills and their on-the-spot creativity, where they must create and execute an original tattoo on command. Each week the artists must satisfy their discerning customers and face a tough panel made up of series host Dave Navarro, renowned tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck, and guest judges. Season 1 guest judges were: acclaimed artists Scott Campbell and Jack Rudy; "Inked" magazine creative director Todd Weinberger; and celebrity tattoo aficionados NBA player Chris Andersen and Ton Jones. Guest judges for Season 2 include NFL player Terrell Suggs. The ten Season 1 contestants were: Al Fliction (www.alfliction.com); Jeremy Miller (www.pigmentatx.com); Tommy Helm (www.empirestudios.com); Shane O'Neill (www.shaneoneilltattoos.com); Brian Robinson (www.b-tat.com); Heather Sinn (www.theartofheathersinn.com); James Vaughn (www.mrjamesvaughn.com); Bili Vegas (www.bilivegas.com); Lea Vendetta (www.leaslounge.com); and Josh Woods (www.Black13tattoo.com).

The 16 competitors for Season 2 include: Tray "Big Daddy" Benham (Big Daddy's Tattoo; Radcliff & Elizabethtown, KY); Clint Cummings (Sparrows Tattoo Company; Mansfield, TX); Nick D'Angelo (The Black Pearl; Buffalo, NY); Jamie Davies (Tattooz Ink; Redding, CA); Katherine "Tatu Baby" Flores (Self-employed; Miami, FL); La Ron "Ron" Givens (Cat Tattoo's Elite Studio; Addison, TX); Steven "Kay Kutta" Givens (Kutthouse Tattoos; Fayetteville, NC); Thomas "TJ" Halvorsen (Foolish Pride Tattoo Co.; St. Petersburg, FL); Cee Jay "Inky" Jones (Suicide Kings Tattoo Parlor; Canton, MI); Mark Matthews (Self-employed; San Francisco, CA); Sarah Miller (Wyld Chyld Tattoo; Pittsburgh, PA); Sebastian Murphy (Detroit Ink; Mt. Clemens, MI); Jesse Smith (Loose Screw Tattoo; Richmond, VA); Little Mike (Addicted to Ink; White Plains, NY); Steven Tefft (12 Tattoos; Groton, CT); and Lalo Yunda (Sacred Tattoo; New York, NY).

Contestants for Season 3 include: Ally Lee (Hot Rod Alley Tattoo; Santa Cruz, CA); Chris May (Proton Tattoo; DeKalb, IL); Craig Foster (Skinwerks Tattoo; Carlton, GA); E.S. (Forever Custom Tattoos; Bridgeport, CT); Frank McManus (Bryan Campbell Tattoo Studio; New Cumberland, PA); Jackie 'Ink Bitch' Jennings (Tru Blu; Philadelphia, PA); James 'Danger' Harvey (Skin Gallery Tattoo; Sacrament, CA); Jason Clay Dunn (Tattoo Alchemy; Montclair, CA); Jime Litwalk (Hart & Huntington Co. & Steadfast Brand; Orlando, FL); Joey 'Hollywood' Hamilton (Club Tattoo Las Vegas; Las Vegas, NV); Joshua Hibbard (No Hope, No Fear Tattoo; Portland, OR); Kyle Dunbar (Almighty Tattoo; Flint, MI); Madison 'Maddie la Belle' Loftis (Corrupted Arts Studio; Greensboro, NC); Richard 'Made Rich' Parker (Think Before You Ink; Queens, NY); 'Mystical' Mike Paterek (Red Dragon Tattoo; Bronx, NY); and Katherine 'Tatu Baby; Flores (self-employed; Miami, FL).

INK MASTER returned for its fourth season on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT on Spike, with these contestants: David Bell (TLA Tattoos; Fredericksburg, VA); Ashley Bennett (Body Graphics; South Windsor, CT) 'Gentle' Jay Blondel (Alchemy Tattoo Arts; North Bellmore, NY); Lydia Bruno (Unique Arts Studio; Glens Falls, NY); Damon Butler (Extreme Fantasy; Abington, MA); Keith Diffenderfer (Honor & Iron; Rehoboth Beach, DE); Kyle Dunbar (Almighty Tattoo; Flint, MI); Jim Francis (Milwaukee Ink; Milwaukee, WI); Walter 'Sausage' Frank (Club Tattoo; Las Vegas, NV); Halo (Black Lotus Tattoo Gallery; Severn, MD); King Ruck (Black Spade Tattoo & Red Elephant Tattoo; Las Vegas, NV); Matti Hixson (Trinity Tattoo; Virginia Beach, VA); Bubba Irwin (Old Town Ink; Scottsdale, AZ); Scott Marshall (Roselle Tattoo Co.; Roselle, IL); Melissa Monroe (Homeward Bound Tattoo; Port Washington, WI); Roland Pacheco (Xisle Custom Tattoo; Hawi, HI); and Randy Vollink (Club Tattoo; Scottsdale, AZ). Plus, the roster of guest judges in Season 4 featured CC Sabathia, Rob Zombie and Brandon Rios.

On Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT, Spike aired the Season 5 premiere of INK MASTER, with Navarro, Nunez and Peck all returning for a fifth season that features contestants with a personal tattoo rival -- from convention circuit foes and a former boss vs former employee to brothers and infamous INK MASTER rivals. The judges are joined by a roster of guests, including Joe Manganiello, Tommy Montoya and DeAngelo Williams, who help evaluate contestants' work in various tattooing styles, such as realism, black and gray, geometric, neo-traditional, Asian and cover-up, among others. The 16 contestants in the fifth season are: Angel (Puncture Tattoo Studio; Brooklyn, NY); Julia Carlson (Ink Obsession; Brown Mills, NJ); LT (East Providence Tattoo; Providence, RI); Jason Clay Dunn (Tattoo Alchemy; Montclair, CA); Emily Elegado (Roses & Ruins Tattoo; Goose Creek, SC); Cris Element (Leathernecks and Bullseye; Brooklyn, NY); Ryan Eternal (Hart & Huntington; Orlando, FL); Joshua Hibbard (Inspired Tattoo; Portland, OR); Tim Lees (Propaganda Tattoo; San Diego, CA); Mark Longenecker (Endless Summer; Cocoa Beach, FL); Aaron Is (Bloodline Tattoo; Tampa, FL); Cleen Rock One (Chrome Gypsy Tattoo; Las Vegas, NV); Don Peddicord (Tattoo Dynasty; Baltimore, MD); Ty'Esha Reels (401 Ink Tattoo; Providence, RI); Robbie Ripoll (Chapel of Love Tattoo; Viera, FL); Jayvo Scott (Ink Doctors Tattoo Studio; Melbourne, FL); Erik Siuda (Ghost Gallery Tattoo; North Bellmore, NY).

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT on Spike TV, INK MASTER returned for its sixth season, immediately following an all-day marathon (9am-9pm) of encore episodes and an all-new one-hour special, "Master vs. Master," during which four Ink Master winners compete in extreme challenges and create insane art to earn a second Ink Master victory. In Season 6, 18 tattoo artists from around the country battle it out in permanent ink as they try to impress Navarro, Nunez and Peck, who are joined by a roster of guest stars including Avan Jogia, Khaseem Greene, Tony Jefferson, Keith Pough, Allen Robinson, Darius Slay, and Kamerion Wimbley. This season it's not just about the rivalries the artists create during the competition, each contestant comes with their own personal tattoo rival -- their master or apprentice. The Season 6 tattoo artists are: Chris Blinston (No Hard Feelings; Coral Springs, FL); Miami Burgess (Skin Werks; Carrollton, GA); Erik Campbell (Black Pearl Tattoo; Grand Junction, CO); Big Ceeze (Mi Familia Tattoo; Anaheim, CA); Dave Clarke (Sacred-X-Pression; Fort Walton Beach, FL); Duffy Fortner (Red Octopus Tattoos; Prince Frederick, MD); Craig Foster (Skinwerks Tattoo; Carrollton, GA); Ryan Hadley (Ryan Hadley Studio; Fort Wayne, IN); Kito (Fidolo Tattoo; Tulsa, OK); Kruseman (Oldeline Tattoo; Hagerstown, MD); Marisa LaRen (Vatican Tattoos; Ft. Lauderdale, FL); St. Marq (New Breed; West Lafayette, IN); Katie McGowan (Black Cobra Tattoo; Sherwood, AR); MV (Blue Panda Tattoo; El Paso, TX); Earl Noble (Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery; Saint Petersburg, FL); Tyler Nolan (Vatican Tattoos; Ft. Lauderdale, FL); Matt O'Baugh (Black Cobra Tattoos; Sherwood, AR); and Brian Stephens (Dapper Ink Tatttoo El Paso, TX).

Season 7 of INK MASTER premiered on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on Spike, with Navarro, Nunez and Peck all returning for the new season. In the new season eight of the series' favorite artists from previous seasons return to battle it out against eight new artists. Each week, a veteran artist -- and former INK MASTER contestant -- is introduced to the group prior to the elimination challenge. The artists are put through a series of tattoo challenges that are not only designed to test the their technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity, as they must create and execute an original tattoo on a Human Canvas. Each episode focuses on a different and distinct style of tattooing, and while the masterpieces these artists create will last a lifetime... so will their mistakes. The new artists in Season 7 are: Christian Buckingham (Revolt Tattoo; Henderson, NV); Corey Davis (City of Ink; Atlanta, GA); Picasso Dular (The Vatican Studios; Los Angeles, CA); Cris Gherman (Fat Cats; New York, NY); Anthony Michaels (Metro Tattoo; Tucson, AZ); Megan Jean Morris (Painted Soul; Wallingford, CT); Alex Rockoff (Aces High Tattoo; West Palm Beach, FL); and Ashley Velazquez (Forever Custom Tattoos; New Haven, CT). Season 7 veteran artists include: Matti Hixson (Otzi Tattoo Agency; Virginia Beach, VA); Jime Litwalk (Ascension Tattoo; Orlando, FL); Sausage (Revolt Tattoo; Las Vegas, NV); St. Marq (New Breed; West Lafayette, IN); Sarah Miller (Wyld Chyld; Pittsburgh, PA); Cleen Rock One (Chrome Gypsy Tattoo; Las Vegas, NV); Jesse Smith (Loose Screw Tattoo; Richmond, VA); and James Vaughn (Tidewater Designs; Mt. Pleasant, SC).

Spike premiered the eighth season of INK MASTER on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT, immediately following a new half-hour special at 9:30pm and an 12.5-hour marathon (9am-9:30pm) of encore episodes. In the special (9:30pm), "The Decision," the Judges, Finalists, and Eliminated Artists Jury return to discuss The Decision from Season 7, one of the most controversial finales to date, as the crowning of Anthony Michaels as Ink Master left Fans divided. In Season 8, judges -- and now, mentors -- Oliver Peck and Chris Nunez pick their own teams of tattoo artists as the contestants battle it out in permanent ink for a $100,000 grand prize, an editorial feature in "Inked" and, for the first time in "Ink Master" history, a guest residency in their mentor's shop. In the season opener, "Weeding Out the Weak," the 30 potential contestants are put through a series of intense tattoo-style challenges, after which, both Nunez and Peck select their top nine to compete as part of their teams. Throughout the competition, the artists are not only tested on their technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity, as they must conceive and execute original tattoos on human canvases. Each episode focuses on a different and distinct style of tattooing, and as always, while the artists' masterpieces will last a lifetime...but so will their mistakes. After every challenge, the contestants face a tough panel comprised of Navarro, Nunez, and Peck. Additionally, this season, instead of a human canvas jury, the team safe from elimination form a jury of peers and nominate artists from the opposing team up for elimination.

INK MASTER returned its 15-episode ninth season on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on Spike. This season, shops from all around the country are sending two of their strongest artists to compete for a $200,000 grand prize, an editorial feature in Inked and, for the first time in INK MASTER history, the title of "Master Shop." This season comes with a new twist, as artists will be competing in pairs and representing their hometown shops. Throughout the competition, the artists are not only tested on their technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity, as they must conceive and execute original tattoos on "human canvases." Each episode will focus on a different and distinct style of tattooing, and as always, while the artists' masterpieces will last a lifetime... so will their mistakes. After every challenge, the contestants face a tough panel comprised of musician, filmmaker and artist Dave Navarro, as well as world-renowned tattoo artists Chris Nunuz and Oliver Peck.

On Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT, Spike TV premiered the 16-episode tenth season of INK MASTER. For the first time, the series welcomes back three INK MASTER winners to coach and mentor artists in the quest for $100,000, an editorial feature in Inked and the coveted title of Ink Master. In addition, the former "Masters" -- Season 2's Steve Tefft, Season 7's Anthony Michaels and Season 9's DJ Tambe -- compete against each other to win $100,000 of their own. After each challenge, the contestants will face a tough panel comprised of Dave Navarro, as well as world-renowned tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck. This new season starts off with 24 potential contestants who are put through a series of intense tattoo-style challenges, after which Tefft, Michaels and Tambe will select their top six artists to compete as part of their teams. Throughout the competition, the artists will be tested on their technical skills along with their on-the-spot creativity, as they must conceive and execute original tattoos on "human canvases." Each episode will focus on a different and distinct style of tattooing and, as always, while the artists' masterpieces will last a lifetime, so will their mistakes. After premiering on Spike TV, INK MASTER will continued to air on the same channel after the network rebranded as the Paramount Network in mid-January.

On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT, Paramount premiered the 16-episode eleventh season of INK MASTER, which is titled INK MASTER: GRUDGE MATCH, with host Dave Navarro and judges Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck returning for a new season. In Season 11, INK MASTER veterans Cleen Rock One and Christian Buckingham settle their rivalry by coaching a group of new artists, where the winning artist takes home $100,000, a feature in "Inked" Magazine, and the title of Ink Master. Plus, the winning coach also earns $100,000. In the season opener, "Opening Shots," 22 artists compete to earn a spot on Team Cleen or Team Christian. The tattoo artists have six hours to create a black-and-gray or new school tattoo for a blind critique by coaches Christian Buckingham and Cleen Rock One. After four artists are sent home, the top 18 are split into two teams of nine.

INK MASTER: BATTLE OF THE SEXES, the program's 16-episode twelfth season, premiered on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on Paramount Network. The new season features teams of male and female artists competing against each other in the ultimate battle for a chance to win $100,000, an editorial feature in "Inked" and the coveted "Ink Master" title. Past contestants and fan favorites return throughout the season to coach the teams in various challenges during the competition. Each week INK MASTER puts artists through a series of tattoo challenges that not only test the artists' technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity, as they must create and execute an original tattoo on a "human canvas." After every challenge, the contestants face a tough panel made up of series host Dave Navarro and world renowned tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck. In the season opener, "The Ink Will Speak for Itself," 18 Artists arrive ready to fight for themselves but instead find they must work in teams divided by gender. Battle lines are drawn, then tested, in the Ink Master Battle of the Sexes. In the end, only one will win $100k and the title of Ink Master. The 18 artists in Season 12 include: Alexis Kovacs (Bethlehem, PA; Owner/Artist, Electric Cheetah Tattoos and Permanent Cosmetics); Ash Mann (Newburgh, NY; Owner/Artist, Phoenix Tattoo); Ashley Anoneison (Salem, NH; Artist, Anoneison Tattoo); Big Jaz (Brooklyn, NY; Owner/Artist, Electric Gorilla Tattoo); Cam Pohl (Lansing, MI; Artist, Fish Ladder Tattoo Company); Creepy Jason (Hampstead, MD; Artist, House of Madness Tattoo Emporium & Odditorium); Dani Ryan (Acushnet, MA; Artist, 1001 Troubles); Elva Stefanie (Poughkeepsie, NY; Owner/Artist, The Blank Slate NY); Fon (Philadelphia, PA; Artist, Money & Ink Tattoo); Holli Marie (Deep River, CT; Artist, Flats Tattoo); Jake Ross (Cleveland, OH; Owner/Artist, Everlast Tattoo Co.); Janelle Hanson (Madison, WI; Artist, Iron Quill Tattoo); Justin Nordine (Grand Junction, CO; Owner/Artist, The Raw Canvas); Laura Marie (Geneseo, NY; Co-owner/Artist, Atomic Roc Tattoo); Pon (Queens, NY; Owner, private studio); Pony Wave (Los Angeles, CA; Traveling artist, private studio); Tim Lease (Orlando, FL; Owner/Artist, Golden Tarot Ink Club); and Tito Zambrano (Valdosta, GA; Artist, Hollywood's Twisted Needles).

The 16-episode thirteenth season of INK MASTER premiered on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT on Paramount Network, with host Dave Navarro and judges Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck all returning. The new season, titled INK MASTER: TURF WAR, features contestants from four different regions of the United States -- East, West, South and Midwest -- each representing their "turf" in the competition to be the next Ink Master. The 20 contestants (and Instagram handles) for Season 13 include: East (Andrew Hicks, Emac, Jessa Bigelow, K Lenore Siner, Jimmy Snaz); South (Jordi Pla, Money Mike Thorton, Nychelle Elise, Patrick Flynn, Jason Elliott); Midwest (Jake Parsons, Jerrel Larkins, Jordan Allred, Kelly Severtson, Frank Ready); West (Hiram Casas, Arlene Salinas, Bob Jones, Raul Ugarte, Angel Rose).

INK MASTER returned for a new season on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 on Paramount+. For Season 14, Joel Madden, lead vocalist for the pop/punk band Good Charlotte and co-founder of music companies Veeps and MDDN, join the series as host, with former INK MASTER winner Ryan Ashley, celebrity tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado and industry veteran Ami James serving as judges. Former host Dave Navarro returns as "Master of Chaos." In the new season, legendary fan-favorite artists return to compete in the ultimate tattoo competition. The artists battle it out and face some of the biggest, most exciting and epic challenges seen in the history of the competition, all for the biggest grand prize yet: $250,000. The first two episodes of Season 14 dropped on Wednesday, September 7. For the new season, these 10 INK MASTER legends return to the Ink Master Shop: Angel Rose (Seasons 11 & 13); Bob Jones (Season 13); Chris Shockley (Season 11); Creepy Jason (Season 12); Deanna James (Season 10); Gian Karle (Season 8); Hiram Casas (Season 13); Holli Marie (Season 12); Katie McGowan (Seasons 6 & 9); and Pon (Season 12). Season 14 of INK MASTER made its linear television debut on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on Paramount Network, as the cable channel aired the season opener.

Season 15 of INK MASTER premiered on Paramount+ on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 with three all-new episodes in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia. Subsequent episodes drop weekly on Paramount+. The new season is hosted by artist-entrepreneur, culture enthusiast, and lead vocalist for pop/punk band Good Charlotte, Joel Madden. Three-time INK MASTER champion DJ Tambe joins this season's judging panel, which includes returning judges Ryan Ashley, the first female tattoo artist to win the competition, and Nikko Hurtado, one of the world's best color-realism artists. In the new season of INK MASTER, 15 new artists enter the shop to battle in the ultimate tattoo competition, where they will compete in grueling Flash Challenges and epic Elimination Tattoos in hopes of walking away with $250,000 and the title of "Ink Master." Contestants for the new season include: Aaron Davis-Holloway, Bobby Johnson, Bryan Black, Charlene Ngo, Dave Patel, David Martinez, Freddie Albrighton, Glenn Cuzen, Jenna Kerr, Jessica Valentine, Joel Mejia, Jon Mesa, Jozzy Camacho, Koral Ladna, and Sydney Dyer.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the sixteenth season of INK MASTER debuted on Paramount+, which released the first three episodes of the new season. A new installment drops weekly on Wednesdays through December 11. Host Joel Madden returns, alongside all three judges: three-time Ink Master champion DJ Tambe; Ryan Ashley, the first female tattoo artist to win the competition; and Nikko Hurtado, one of the world's best color-realism artists. In the new season, 16 new artists enter the shop to battle in the ultimate tattoo competition, where they will put their skills -- and their experience -- to the test week after week in epic challenges. Only one will win $250,000 and the title of "Ink Master." The 16 Season 16 contestants are: Alena Wedderburn, Andy Pho, Anthony Tex, Cat Castro, Jade Olivia, James Tex, Jenna Coffin, Johnny Angel, Jorell Elie, Joseph Serrano, Love Duncan, Lucy Hu, Manny Fernandez, Pony Lawson, Stephanie Heffron, and Trevor Burtz.
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Today (Wednesday, November 20, 2024), Paramount+ released "Monsters Ink," a new episode of INK MASTER. Power tools and a team shake up have the Artists feeling the pressure in the Flash Challenge. Loyalties are tested in a monstrous Elimination Tattoo and the battle for the title of Ink Master heats up.