Ink Master

Which generation will conquer the competition?

TV-142012•42m•7.8/10

Reality

Ratings

🎬TMDb

7.8/10(91)

A group of the country's most creative and skilled tattoo artists compete for a hundred thousand dollars and the title of Ink Master. The stakes couldn't be higher with "living canvasses" donating their skin to be permanently marked in this adrenalized competition elimination.

Open in PickFlick

Production

Original Media, MTV Entertainment Studios, Truly Original

Language

Status

Returning Series

First Aired

January 17, 2012

Last Aired

December 17, 2025

Networks

Spike, Paramount Network, Paramount+

Where to Watch

Region US · Lang EN

No providers available for this region.

Available in Your Library

Seasons & Episodes

Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.

Season

Fresh Meat

Air date: 2012-01-17

Ten of the best tattoo artists on the planet tattoo Human Canvases in a series of extreme challenges. The first Artist is eliminated on the path to determining who will earn a $100,000 prize and the title of Ink Master.

Botched Head Tattoo

Air date: 2012-01-24

A head tattoo becomes a medical emergency and tempers explode when Heather challenges the judges. Ton Jones serves as Guest Judge and a second artist is eliminated from the competition, losing the chance to win $100K.

Pasties and a Cameltoe

Air date: 2012-01-31

Naked women heat up the competition and another head tattoo sparks a fight between Al and Bili. A third artist is eliminated from the competition and the chance to win $100K

Ink Disaster Piece

Air date: 2012-02-07

Photo Realism tattoos turn disastrous when Bili has difficulty with muscle structure and Heather’s art goes up in flames. A fourth artist is eliminated from the competition.

Game On

Air date: 2012-02-14

Competition turns cut-throat when Josh calls out Shane for only doing black & grey. Shane fights to prove his color skills and impress the judges. A fifth artist is eliminated from the competition.

Permanent Mistakes

Air date: 2012-02-21

Tattoos are forever and so are the mistakes! The artists are plagued with massive mistakes while tattooing pinups on their canvasses. A sixth artist is eliminated from the competition and the chance to win $100K.

Picture Imperfect

Air date: 2012-02-28

Some of the remaining artists botch their portrait tattoos by screwing up important features, leaving their human canvasses with bad art. 4 artists remain but only 1 will take home $100K and the title of Ink Master.

Ink Master Revealed

Air date: 2012-03-06

In the season finale, human canvasses blindly agree to let the remaining artists tattoo anything they want on their skin. A grueling 18 hours of tattooing with a shocking twist! Who will take home $100K & the title of Ink Master?