BIOGRAPHY
Ryan Karagory — known as Tattoo Ryan and SekiRyu Ichiban — has spent more than two decades building a tattoo career across some of the most demanding shops in America.
Born July 7, 1981, in LaPorte, Indiana, Ryan was raised across Hawaii, Las Vegas, and the East Chicago, Indiana area. He graduated from Kaimuki High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, class of 2000, then served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division. He is a disabled veteran.
Ryan began tattooing around 2004. After completing his apprenticeship, he opened his own shop — Paradise Ink Tattoo Company — on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. From there he worked in high-volume, hyper-competitive shops in Las Vegas and the Chicago area, sharpening an illustrative range across pop culture, dark art, horror, and custom black-and-grey.
Today he owns and operates Utah Tattoo Studio & Surf Club 101 (SekiRyu Ichiban 101), a private appointment-only studio in St. George, Utah.
His style is a fusion built across three regions: bold blackwork and Pacific flow from Hawaii; illustrative range and dark imagery from Las Vegas and Chicago; vast black-and-grey landscapes — mountains, pines, eagles — from Utah. The result is high-contrast black-and-grey with deep saturated blacks against clean skin breaks: readable from across the room and built to heal clean over time. His subject matter runs through classic horror, video games, dark Americana, skulls, owls, and portraits.
Custom work only. Appointment only.
Ryan overlooking Waikiki with Diamond Head
About
Utah Tattoo Studio & Surf Club 101
is St. George's private appointment-only tattoo studio, run by Ryan Karagory — Tattoo Ryan, SekiRyu Ichiban. Twenty-two years across Hawaii, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Utah built a style you won't find anywhere else: high-contrast black-and-grey with deep saturated blacks, custom work only, built to heal clean and last. This is where serious collectors come.
The Artist: SekiRyu Ichiban
With over 22 years of elite tattooing experience, SekiRyu Ichiban brings a unique blend of military precision and island soul to every piece. As a U.S. Army 101st Airborne veteran, his work is defined by technical mastery and a deep respect for the craft. Born in LaPorte, Indiana, he grew up in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and the East Chicago, Indiana area, and graduated from Kaimuki High School in Honolulu, Hawaii (class of 2000). From the Waikiki shores to the high-stakes studios of Las Vegas and St. George, Utah, he has honed his craft across the country. Today, he leads Utah Tattoo Studio & Surf Club 101 with a commitment to excellence and community outreach.
Specialized Styles
- Black & Grey
- American Traditional
- Portraits
- Bold Color
- Realism
- Custom
- Island Fusion
- Macabre
THE STYLE
Twenty-two years across three tattoo cultures built something you don't see every day.
Hawaii gave it bold lines and heavy blackwork — Pacific flow, high contrast, built to last. Las Vegas and Chicago gave it range: pop culture, dark art, horror, illustrative detail sharpened in the most competitive shops in the country. Utah gave it scale — mountain ranges, pine trees, eagles, vast black-and-grey landscapes with precision shading.
The result is a hybrid: dark, cinematic black-and-grey with the structural backbone of old-school tattooing. Deep saturated blacks against clean skin breaks. Readable from across the room, and it heals that way too — no blurry grey wash fading out in five years.
The subject matter runs through subculture: classic horror, video games, dark Americana, skulls, owls, portraits. Custom work, appointment only, out of a private studio in St. George.
That's why it gets copied. When a style solves the hard problems — contrast, longevity, originality — other artists study it. Imitation is just the receipt.
The Journey
01
U.S. Army 101st Airborne
01
Service in the 101st Airborne, Fort Campbell, specializing in Airborne Paratrooper and Air Assault qualifications.
Hawaii
Apprenticed at Aloha Tattoo Waikiki and Odyssey Tattoo Gallery, honing skills in Honolulu.
02
02
Las Vegas
St. George
Worked alongside Edward Frayna and Britt Rucci at HellBoy's Tattoo 702 and MasterMind Crew.
Opening Paradise City Tattoo and now operating Utah Tattoo Studio & Surf Club 101.
Community Outreach
Guest spots across the US and Europe, plus dedicated community work with autism programs.
03
Active participation in nationwide outreach programs and gang/violence prevention initiatives.
Violence Outreach
His places: Hawaii, Las Vegas, Chicago, St. George
03
THE ARTISAN'S PORTFOLIO
Explore the intersection of military precision and island heritage through our curated collection of custom tattoos and surf-inspired designs.
Good to know before you book
This is a private, appointment-only studio. Every piece is custom work — no walk-ins. To request a booking, text (435) 200-4828 or message us on Instagram or Facebook. Please don’t call: you’ll need to send reference pictures anyway. Send your idea, your reference pictures, your info, and roughly which days you’re hoping for. You don’t pick an actual appointment day. You’ll talk it over with the artist first, then a consultation is set and the $40 deposit is paid. Only once the deposit is in are the consultation date and tattoo appointment date set — the artist draws the design and has it ready for tattoo day. Nothing is booked directly from the website; the request starts the conversation. Rates start at $100/hr. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 4 PM–12 AM. Closed Sunday and Monday. 18+ only.
Aftercare: keep the wrap on for the first few hours. Then wash the tattoo gently with clean hands and mild soap, and smooth on a thin layer of ointment. While it heals, don’t soak it or go swimming, keep it out of the sun, and don’t pick at any peeling skin.
Secure Your Spot
Request your session by texting (435) 200-4828 — please don't call. Send your idea, reference pictures, your info, and roughly which days you're hoping for. You'll talk it over with the artist, a consultation is set, and the $40 deposit locks it in. Rates start at $100/hr. By appointment only. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 4pm–12am.
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