Ryan Ashley Malarkey is an American tattoo artist known for her appearances on the television shows Ink Master and its spin-offs. Her signature style reflects her training and experience as a fashion designer: Malarkey specializes in black-and-gray designs with beadwork, lace detail, and ornamental jewels. Malarkey won Ink Masterseason eight competition in 2016 and in the following three years, hosted two seasons of a spin-off show and served as a judge in another spin-off. Malarkey also owns two oddities and antiques shops in Pennsylvania.
Early life and career
Ryan Ashley Malarkey was raised in Dallas, a small borough in northeast Pennsylvania. Her single mother worked at a fast food restaurant while taking night school in accounting. Malarkey's mother, who was also an artist, taught her how to draw. She graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology in 2007 and spent five years as a fashion designer in New York City at a private label, where she designed beadwork, lace details, embroidery, and appliqués for garments. Her intricate tattoo style would later reflect these themes. Seeking a career outside of a traditional office environment, Malarkey returned to Pennsylvania to apprentice as a tattoo artist. Her experience working at a street shop convinced her to only work by appointment. Malarkey and her companion opened a shop in Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 2013, The Strange and Unusual Oddities Parlor. Malarkey tattooed from the back of the shop while the front featured their collection of taxidermy, objects, and restored antiques for sale. The latter had been a hobby from her youth, when she had attended yard and estate sales with her mother and grandmother. The couple opened a second shop in Philadelphia with taxidermist business partners. Malarkey's signature black-and-gray tattoo designs feature beadwork, lace detail, and ornamental jewels. When designing filigree, she references Victorian furniturescrollwork. She references bridal accessories and chandeliers for her beading designs, and old, illustrated wildlife books for animal and bird designs. Her clients have included rock musicians Maria Brink and Ash Costello.
''Ink Master''
In late 2016, Malarkey appeared on Ink Master, a reality competition television series in which tattoo artists participate in artistic challenges to outlast other competitors and receive the season's title and monetary prize. Malarkey was the eighth season's champion, the first woman to win the title, and as of August 2019, the only female champion in its first eleven seasons. Mic noted the occasion as a moment for female tattoo artists, who are subject to social stigmas in a male-dominated profession. Under Malarkey, the women on the show formed an alliance to outlast their competitors. The show's executive producer said it was the first time such an alliance had held throughout the season. With only five years of tattoo experience, Malarkey won the title as a relative newcomer. She entered the show to develop new areas of tattooing expertise and test herself. Malarkey had been approached to participate in previous seasons of the show, but declined for scheduling conflicts. Malarkey is featured in the two seasons of ', a spin-off from Ink Master in which Malarkey and two co-competitors from the main series' eighth season traveled across the United States to face off against local tattoo artists. Winners received spots in the next season of Ink Master. The show appeared on Paramount Network in 2017 and 2018. Angels was originally planned as a one-hour special with the same premise, but expanded into a full-season spin-off. Malarkey later served as a judge in another spin-off, '. Malarkey returned to New York City in 2018. As of 2019, she lives and works in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Personal life
Malarkey was formerly engaged to Josh Balz, former keyboardist in the metal bandMotionless in White. She married tattooer Arlo DiCristina in late 2019. She announced both her relationship with DiCristina and her pregnancy on covers of Inked magazine. Their son Atheus was born on May 16, 2020.
