Ryan Thomas

Ryan Thomas: Nashville's Snake Man at Black 13

There's a thread that runs through Ryan Thomas's entire body of work, and it coils. Nashville's tattooing community has no shortage of talented artists, but Ryan has carved out something entirely his own at Black 13 Tattoo — a visual identity so committed to the serpent that it's become his calling card, his obsession, and the lens through which he sees the craft.

Black 13 Tattoo, Nashville

Ryan is a fixture at Black 13 Tattoo (@black13tattoo) — one of Nashville's most respected shops, a place with history and a genuine commitment to quality tattooing over walk-in volume. It's the kind of shop that attracts serious artists and serious clients, and Ryan fits the culture completely.

His website, black13tattoo.com, is the front door for bookings and portfolio browsing — a clean operation that reflects how professionally he runs his practice.

The Snake Project

If there's a single theme that defines Ryan's current practice, it's snakes. Not as a novelty or a trend — as a full artistic investigation. The "Project Snake" and "2025 Snakes" story highlights document an ongoing, evolving body of work centered entirely on serpent imagery rendered in bold neo-traditional style. Bold red and black coiling belly pieces. Vibrant color snake knee tattoos that use the joint as part of the composition. Large-format canvas paintings that push the imagery into fine art territory.

The serpent, in Ryan's hands, is endlessly variable — menacing in one piece, decorative in another, mythological in a third. What stays constant is the quality of the line, the confidence of the composition, and the richness of the color work.

Make It Perfect Show

Ryan's profile extends beyond the tattoo chair. He appeared on @makeitperfectshow — a TV episode that brought his work to a broader audience and demonstrated the kind of storytelling behind his craft. Convention presence, including TattooFest, rounds out a career built on community engagement as much as individual output.

Sullen Family

Bold neo-traditional vision, deep Nashville roots, a singular artistic obsession executed at the highest level, and a shop culture built on quality and craft — Ryan Thomas belongs in the Sullen Art Collective conversation. The snake never lies.