Calgary tattoo artist wins season 16 of 'Ink Master' TV show

Local father and son take on 'Ink Master' TV show The reality TV show 'Ink Master' features tattoo artists from across North America. Season 16 includes a Calgary father and son.

A Calgarian has won the latest season of American competition reality show Ink Master.

Season 16 of the TV show, which airs on Paramount+, saw 16 tattoo artists competing for a US$250,000 cash prize.

Officials confirmed on Thursday that local tattoo artist James Tex won the title of 'Ink Master’ on the show’s latest season.

Tex, 50, is the owner of Deadly Tattoos in southwest Calgary.

He began tattooing in Victoria, B.C. some 26 years ago.

Tex wasn’t the only artist from Deadly Tattoos to compete in Season 16 – his son was also competing.

"This season, the artists were split into two teams, The OGs, who have been tattooing for more than a decade, and the Young Guns, who had less than 10 years’ experience," explained a news release from Paramount+.

"Each episode tested different skills such as adaptability, versatility and precision with challenges on metallic tattoos, face tattoos and creating a full back piece in 24 hours."

Speaking to CTV News about the show last month, Tex said he was lucky to have his son by his side during the competition.

"(He provided) a little bit of a support system," he said.

Tex said the rest of the contestants were "super nice" – but he was the "oldest guy" there.

The full season of the show is now available to watch on Paramount+.