Ryan Ashley facts for kids

Ryan Ashley DiCristina (born April 29, 1987), known as Ryan Ashley, is a famous American tattoo artist. She is well-known for being on TV shows like Ink Master and its spin-offs. Ryan Ashley's unique tattoo style comes from her background in fashion design. She creates amazing black-and-gray tattoos that look like they have tiny beads, delicate lace, and sparkling jewels.

In 2016, Ryan Ashley won Ink Master's season eight. She was the first woman to ever win the competition! After her big win, she came back to TV to host a show called Angels. She also became a judge on Grudge Match and later on the main Ink Master series. Today, she co-owns a tattoo shop in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Ryan Ashley's Early Life and Career

Ryan Ashley grew up in Dallas, a small town in Pennsylvania. Her mom, who was also an artist, taught her how to draw. Ryan Ashley went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated in 2007. For five years, she worked as a fashion designer in New York City. She designed beautiful details like beadwork, lace, and embroidery for clothes. These detailed designs later inspired her intricate tattoo style.

Ryan Ashley wanted a job that wasn't a typical office job. So, she moved back to Pennsylvania to learn how to be a tattoo artist. She learned a lot by working in a tattoo shop that took walk-in customers. This experience made her decide to only take tattoo appointments.

In 2013, Ryan Ashley and her partner at the time, Josh Balz, opened a shop in Kingston, Pennsylvania. It was called The Strange and Unusual Oddities Parlor. Ryan Ashley did tattoos in the back of the shop. The front part sold cool things like taxidermy (stuffed animals), unique objects, and old restored antiques. Collecting these items had been a hobby since she was young, when she went to yard sales with her mom and grandma. Later, they opened a second shop in Philadelphia.

What is Ryan Ashley's Tattoo Style?

Ryan Ashley's special black-and-gray tattoo designs often feature beadwork, lace details, and ornamental jewels. When she designs swirly patterns, she gets ideas from old Victorian furniture. For her bead designs, she looks at bridal accessories and chandeliers. She also uses old, illustrated wildlife books to help her design animals and birds. Some of her clients include rock musicians like Maria Brink and Ash Costello.

Ryan Ashley on Ink Master

In late 2016, Ryan Ashley appeared on Ink Master. This is a reality competition TV show where tattoo artists compete in art challenges. They try to outlast other artists to win a title and a cash prize. Ryan Ashley was the champion of the eighth season, making her the first woman to ever win!

This was a big moment for female tattoo artists. In the past, tattooing was mostly a male-dominated job, and women faced challenges. On the show, Ryan Ashley and the other women formed a team to help each other. The show's producer said it was the first time such a team stayed strong for the whole season. Ryan Ashley won the title even though she had only been tattooing for five years. She joined the show to learn new tattoo skills and challenge herself. She had been asked to be on Ink Master before but couldn't because of her schedule.

Ink Master Spin-Offs and Judging

Ryan Ashley also appeared in two seasons of Ink Master: Angels. This was a spin-off show where Ryan Ashley and other competitors from Ink Master season eight traveled across the United States. They competed against local tattoo artists. The winners of these challenges earned a spot in the next season of Ink Master. The show aired on Paramount Network in 2017 and 2018. Angels was first planned as a one-hour special but became a full season show.

Later, Ryan Ashley became a judge on another spin-off called Ink Master: Grudge Match (2019). In 2022, she returned to the main Ink Master show as a judge for season 14. She continued judging into the 15th season the next year.

She owns Elysium Studios, a tattoo shop in a restored church in Grand Junction, Colorado, with her husband. Elysium often hosts guest tattoo artists and resident artists who Ryan Ashley knows from Ink Master.

Ryan Ashley's Personal Life

Ryan Ashley was previously engaged to Josh Balz, who used to play keyboard in the band Motionless in White. In late 2019, she married fellow tattoo artist Arlo DiCristina. Their son, Atheus, was born in May 2020. She shared news about her relationship with DiCristina and her pregnancy on the covers of Inked magazine.

She moved back to New York City in 2018. As of 2019, she lives and works in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she and DiCristina own Elysium Studios.