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Season guide

Ink Master: Season 1

8 episodes Premiered Jan 17, 2012 Updated Jul 23, 2026

Ink Master is an American reality competition television series that premiered on the network Spike on January 17, 2012. The first season of the program concluded on March 6, 2012, consisting of a total of 8 episodes. The series features a group of skilled and creative tattoo artists who compete against one another in various challenges to demonstrate their artistic abilities. The competition is hosted and judged by

Season overview

Ink Master is an American reality competition television series that premiered on the network Spike on January 17, 2012. The first season of the program concluded on March 6, 2012, consisting of a total of 8 episodes. The series features a group of skilled and creative tattoo artists who compete against one another in various challenges to demonstrate their artistic abilities. The competition is hosted and judged by Dave Navarro, who is known as the guitarist for Jane's Addiction. Joining him as series regular judges are accomplished tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck. Participants in the competition vie for a grand prize of 100,000 dollars. In addition to the monetary award, the winner of the competition receives a feature in Inked Magazine and earns the official title of Ink Master. The show focuses on the professional skills of the artists as they navigate the requirements of the reality format. The series has also been associated with the Paramount Network. This inaugural season established the foundational structure for the competition, highlighting the technical and creative standards expected of the contestants throughout the duration of the series.

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Episodes

S1·E1

Fresh Meat

Jan 17, 2012 · 42 min

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

S1·E2

Botched Head Tattoo

Jan 24, 2012 · 42 min

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 competi

S1·E3

Pasties and a Cameltoe

Jan 31, 2012 · 42 min

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

S1·E4

Ink Disaster Piece

Feb 7, 2012 · 42 min

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.

S1·E5

Game On

Feb 14, 2012 · 42 min

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

S1·E6

Permanent Mistakes

Feb 21, 2012 · 42 min

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 competit

S1·E7

Picture Imperfect

Feb 28, 2012 · 42 min

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

S1·E8

Ink Master Revealed

Mar 6, 2012 · 42 min

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! Wh