James Tex is a Canadian tattoo artist, studio owner, and social media creator best known as the winner of Ink Master Season 16. Based in Calgary, Alberta, he operates Deadly Tattoos Inc., a professional studio that also includes his children, Anthony Tex and Ali Tex, among its publicly listed artists.
Tex entered Ink Master as an established industry professional rather than a newcomer. Public convention profiles state that he began tattooing in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1998, relocated to Calgary in 2000, and opened Deadly Tattoos in 2005. His television victory introduced his work to a wider audience after more than two decades in the tattoo industry.
His public profile combines four connected areas: professional tattooing, studio ownership, television competition, and family mentorship. Instagram also functions as a major portfolio platform, where he shares finished tattoo work, studio updates, convention appearances, and professional announcements.
Featured Snippet Section
Who is James Tex?
James Tex is a Canadian tattoo artist, owner of Deadly Tattoos Inc. in Calgary, and winner of Ink Master Season 16. He began tattooing in the late 1990s and built an established career before appearing on the Paramount+ competition series.
Did James Tex win Ink Master?
Yes. James Tex won Ink Master Season 16, titled OGs vs. Young Guns. His son, Anthony Tex, also competed during the season and reached the finale, making their shared appearance an important part of the competition’s family storyline.
Where is James Tex’s tattoo shop?
James Tex works at Deadly Tattoos Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The studio publicly lists James, Anthony Tex, Ali Tex, and several other professional artists. Clients are directed to contact individual artists regarding consultations and project availability.
Who is Anthony Tex?
Anthony Tex is James Tex’s son and a professional tattoo artist at Deadly Tattoos. He competed alongside his father on Ink Master Season 16 and finished as the runner-up after both artists reached the final stage of the competition.
Who hosted James Tex’s season of Ink Master?
Joel Madden hosted Ink Master Season 16. The judging panel also included Ryan Ashley, Nikko Hurtado, and DJ Tambe. Dave Navarro hosted earlier seasons but was not the main host during James Tex’s Season 16 appearance.
Profile Summary
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Tex |
| Profession | Tattoo artist, studio owner, social media creator |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Known For | Winning Ink Master Season 16 |
| Professional Base | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Tattoo Studio | Deadly Tattoos Inc. |
| Career Start | 1998, according to public convention profiles |
| Studio Founded | 2005 |
| @jamestex | |
| Instagram Audience | Approximately 200,000 followers at the time checked |
| Son | Anthony Tex |
| Daughter | Ali Tex |
| Main Tattoo Interests | Illustrative, Japanese-influenced, neo-traditional, and varied custom work |
| Major Television Achievement | Ink Master Season 16 champion |
| Public Information Level | Detailed professional record; limited private background |
Early Life and Background
A post shared by Convention Art Tattoo Québec (@arttattooquebec)
James Tex is Canadian, but detailed information about his childhood, parents, siblings, and exact birthplace is not widely available through reliable public sources. Some secondary profiles associate him strongly with Calgary, although professional biographies state that his tattoo career began in Victoria, British Columbia.
A Richmond Tattoo & Arts Convention profile reports that Tex started tattooing in Victoria in 1998. He moved to Calgary in 2000 and joined Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo, an established name in the local tattoo community.
These details provide a clearer professional timeline than the limited information available about his early personal life. A factual biography should therefore focus on his documented development as an artist rather than making assumptions about childhood influences or family circumstances.
Education and Tattoo Training
Verified information about James Tex’s formal academic education is not widely public. No reliable source clearly identifies a college, degree, art school, or specific professional training program.
His career record instead demonstrates long-term practical experience. Beginning in 1998, Tex developed his work through studio practice, client projects, professional travel, conventions, and interaction with other tattoo artists.
It would be inaccurate to name a specific apprenticeship, teacher, or certification without direct confirmation. His public expertise is best supported by the length of his career, portfolio, business history, television performance, and standing within professional tattoo circles.
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Career and Professional Journey
Tex began his professional tattoo career in Victoria before relocating to Calgary. After working within the city’s tattoo community, he opened Deadly Tattoos Inc. in 2005.
The studio became the center of his professional identity. Deadly Tattoos publishes individual artist portfolios and provides direct contact information for consultations. Its current public roster includes James, Anthony, Ali, and additional artists with different visual approaches.
Tex’s portfolio is associated with detailed illustrative tattooing, Japanese-inspired imagery, neo-traditional elements, strong color, and large compositions. However, his studio profile and public work also suggest that he accepts varied custom projects rather than limiting himself to one category.
Before television exposure, Tex had already built visibility through tattoo conventions, industry publications, studio work, and Instagram. This background distinguished him as one of the experienced “OG” competitors selected for Season 16 of Ink Master.
Ink Master Season 16 Victory
Season 16 of Ink Master used an “OGs vs. Young Guns” structure, dividing attention between veteran tattoo artists and professionals from a newer generation. The competition tested technical ability, adaptability, design judgment, and performance under strict time limits.
James Tex entered as an experienced artist from Calgary. His son Anthony competed during the same season, creating a rare father-and-son dynamic within the series. Both advanced to the finale.
James ultimately won the Ink Master title, while Anthony finished as runner-up. Paramount’s official promotional materials identify James as the Season 16 winner. Public tattoo-convention profiles also describe him as the first Canadian to win the competition.
The victory was important because it expanded an already established professional career. Rather than creating his reputation from the beginning, the program introduced his existing body of work and decades of experience to a broader streaming audience.
Deadly Tattoos Inc.
Deadly Tattoos is a Calgary-based studio founded by James Tex in 2005. The business remains active and publicly lists a team of artists rather than operating only as a family studio.
James’s role combines creative work with business leadership. The studio serves as his professional base, displays portfolios, manages inquiries, and connects clients directly with individual artists.
Anthony and Ali Tex both work within the studio. Their involvement gives Deadly Tattoos a multigenerational element, but the business also features unrelated artists. It should therefore be described as a professional tattoo studio with family participation, not exclusively as a family operation.
Public sources do not provide verified information about company revenue, ownership percentages, employee salaries, or business valuation.
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Instagram and Digital Portfolio
James Tex uses the Instagram handle @jamestex. At the time checked, the account had approximately 202,000 followers, although social media totals change regularly.
His Instagram page operates primarily as a visual portfolio. Posts feature completed tattoo projects, close-up details, artwork, travel, professional appearances, and Ink Master-related updates.
This type of account serves a different function from a general celebrity profile. For a tattoo artist, a strong visual platform can demonstrate technique, introduce artistic themes, document recent work, and support appointment inquiries.
Tex’s television success likely increased his recognition outside the established tattoo community. However, exact follower growth before and after Season 16 is not publicly documented well enough to calculate a verified increase.
Family and Artistic Mentorship
James Tex’s publicly known children include Anthony Tex and Ali Tex. Both are tattoo artists connected with Deadly Tattoos.
Anthony’s official studio profile states that he began at Deadly Tattoos in 2010 and learned while working with his father and other visiting artists. His appearance on Ink Master Season 16 gave the public a direct view of the professional connection between father and son.
Ali’s studio profile states that she began her apprenticeship at Deadly Tattoos in 2021 and works alongside her father and brother. Her public portfolio confirms that tattooing has become a shared professional field within the family.
This family pattern demonstrates how technical knowledge, studio experience, and artistic culture can move between generations. It should not, however, be used to assume private family dynamics beyond their documented professional collaboration.
Major Achievements and Recognition
James Tex’s most visible achievement is winning Ink Master Season 16. The title brought national and international recognition to a career that had already lasted more than 25 years.
Other documented career markers include:
- Beginning his professional tattoo career in 1998
- Establishing Deadly Tattoos in Calgary in 2005
- Developing a substantial tattoo portfolio
- Building a large Instagram audience
- Participating in professional tattoo conventions
- Becoming the first publicly recognized Canadian winner of Ink Master
- Reaching the Season 16 finale alongside his son Anthony
Specific convention awards and magazine features should be listed only when an article can verify the publication, event, category, and year.
Personal Life
James Tex’s public family information is mostly connected to his children’s careers. Anthony and Ali are both professional tattoo artists at Deadly Tattoos.
Reliable public sources provide little information about his spouse, parents, siblings, home life, or relationships. Those details should remain outside a factual biography unless James or a credible publication confirms them.
His public identity is centered on his studio, artwork, family mentorship, Instagram portfolio, and television victory rather than on private lifestyle coverage.
Philanthropy and Public Engagement
There is no widely documented independent charity foundation or major philanthropic program associated with James Tex.
His public engagement is more clearly visible through tattoo conventions, professional interviews, studio mentorship, media appearances, and participation in the wider tattoo community.
Working alongside younger artists and family members may be considered a form of professional mentorship, but claims about formal teaching programs or charitable activity require stronger documentation.
Public Perception and Misconceptions
James Tex is generally viewed as a veteran Canadian tattoo artist whose television success followed a long studio career. Viewers may know him from Ink Master, while clients and industry audiences may associate him more closely with Deadly Tattoos and his portfolio.
One misconception is that he merely competed on Season 16. He won the season.
Another error concerns the host. Dave Navarro was closely associated with earlier seasons of Ink Master, but Joel Madden hosted Season 16. Ryan Ashley, Nikko Hurtado, and DJ Tambe were part of the judging panel.
It is also inaccurate to describe Tex only as an Instagram personality. His social media following developed around professional tattoo work, and his career began decades before his Ink Master victory.
Finally, Deadly Tattoos is not staffed only by relatives. James, Anthony, and Ali work there, but the studio publicly lists other artists as well.
Privacy and Limited Public Information
James Tex has a well-documented professional profile but a limited public personal biography.
Confirmed information includes his tattoo career, Calgary studio, Season 16 victory, Instagram account, professional timeline, and work with Anthony and Ali.
Information that remains limited includes:
- Exact birth date
- Detailed childhood background
- Formal education
- Spouse or relationship status
- Parents and siblings
- Net worth
- Studio revenue
- Private residence
- Complete business ownership details
Financial estimates and personal claims found on unsourced biography websites should not be treated as reliable facts.
Legacy and Influence
James Tex’s influence is connected to longevity, studio development, Canadian representation, and multigenerational tattoo work.
His Season 16 victory gave Canada its first publicly identified Ink Master champion. It also demonstrated that an artist with decades of studio experience could adapt to the compressed challenges and judging structure of television competition.
Deadly Tattoos represents another part of his legacy. Operating since 2005, the studio supports his own work while providing a professional base for Anthony, Ali, and other artists.
His career also illustrates the changing visibility of tattoo artists. Tex developed through studios and conventions before Instagram and streaming television became major promotional channels. His current profile brings those traditional and digital paths together.
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FAQ Section
What tattoo shop does James Tex own?
James Tex founded Deadly Tattoos Inc. in Calgary, Alberta. Public records and professional profiles state that the studio opened in 2005 and remains active.
Did James Tex compete with his son?
Yes. James and Anthony Tex competed on Ink Master Season 16. Both reached the finale, with James winning and Anthony finishing as runner-up.
Is Ali Tex related to James Tex?
Yes. Ali Tex is James Tex’s daughter. Her official studio profile identifies James as her father and Anthony as her brother.
How long has James Tex been tattooing?
Public professional profiles state that James Tex began tattooing in 1998. This gives him more than 25 years of industry experience.
Was Dave Navarro the host when James Tex won?
No. Joel Madden hosted Season 16. Dave Navarro hosted earlier seasons and remains strongly associated with the history of the program.
Conclusion
James Tex is an established Canadian tattoo artist, Calgary studio owner, and winner of Ink Master Season 16. He began tattooing in Victoria in 1998, moved to Calgary in 2000, and founded Deadly Tattoos in 2005.
His public career includes detailed custom tattoo work, convention participation, a large Instagram portfolio, and professional collaboration with his children Anthony and Ali. His Season 16 victory increased his mainstream visibility and made him the first publicly recognized Canadian winner of the competition.
The strongest account of his career is based on documented professional achievements rather than private speculation. James Tex’s significance lies in his long tattoo career, studio-building work, family mentorship, and successful move from industry recognition to international television exposure.