Tony Ritter: Award Winning Tattoo Artist across multiple conventions across the country:

For many people, tattoo conventions are where they discover incredible artists from around the country. For tattoo artists, they're something even more meaningful. They're a place to reconnect with old friends, celebrate the history and traditions of tattooing, learn from one another, and push themselves creatively alongside some of the best artists in the industry.

For Tony Ritter, owner and tattoo artist at Chariot Tattoo Studio in Boise, Idaho, tattoo conventions have been an important part of his journey throughout his 14-year tattoo career.

6-time award winner at the 208 Tattoo Fest in Garden City, Idaho in July 2026.

While Tony certainly enjoys competing, winning awards has never been the sole reason he attends conventions. Like many artists, he values the camaraderie that exists within the tattoo community. Conventions provide an opportunity to spend time with fellow artists, share techniques and ideas, admire each other's work, and celebrate an art form that has been passed from one generation to the next.

Some conventions are simply about enjoying the atmosphere.

Tony may attend to tattoo longtime clients, reconnect with friends from around the country, support fellow artists, and enjoy a weekend immersed in tattoo culture without entering a single competition.

Other conventions are different.

Sometimes a client presents the perfect project, and Tony intentionally designs a piece with competition in mind. These tattoos often involve months of planning, careful composition, exceptional technical precision, and many hours of focused work. The goal isn't simply to finish a tattoo—it's to create artwork that can stand alongside some of the finest tattooing being produced anywhere in the country.

For Tony, competition is less about beating other artists and more about challenging himself to continually grow. Every award represents countless hours spent refining technique, studying composition, improving realism, and striving to create tattoos that will stand the test of time.

Over the years, that dedication has been recognized across multiple regions of the United States through a variety of respected tattoo conventions.

Recent Tattoo Convention Awards

Tony's recent awards include:

• 1st Place Large Black and Gray - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• 3rd Place Large Black and Gray - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• 1st Place Small Black and Gray - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• 2nd Place Realism - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• 1st Place Best Sleeve - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• 2nd Place Best Sleeve - 208 Tattoo Fest (2026)

• Best of Show – Boise Tattoo Convention, Idaho (2025)

• 1st Place Black & Gray – Boise Tattoo Convention, Idaho (2025)

• Best of Show – Boise Tattoo Convention, Idaho (2024)

• 2nd Place Large Black & Gray – 208 Tattoo Convention, Boise, Idaho (2024)

• 2nd Place Best Black & Gray Sleeve – Denver, Colorado (2022)

• Best Arm/Leg Sleeve – Juneau, Alaska (2023)

• 2nd Place Best Black & Gray – Austin Tattoo Invitational, Texas (2023)

Three Rivers Tattoo Convention – Washington

Tony has also enjoyed success over several years at the Three Rivers Tattoo Convention in Washington, earning:

• 1st Place Asian Tattoo (2018)

• 1st Place Small Black & Gray (2018)

• 2nd Place Black & Gray Sleeve (2021)

• 2nd Place Small Black & Gray (2022)

Evergreen Tattoo Invitational – Oregon

The Evergreen Tattoo Invitational has become another convention where Tony's work has been consistently recognized, earning multiple awards over several consecutive years:

2026

• 2nd Place Black & Gray Tattoo

• 2nd Place Black & Gray Portrait

• 1st Place Best Black & Gray Portrait

2025

• 2nd Place Best Large Black & Gray

• 1st Place Best Black & Gray Portrait

2024

• 3rd Place Best Large Black & Gray

Receiving awards over multiple years at the same convention is especially meaningful because the level of competition continues to evolve. Each year brings new artists, fresh ideas, and increasingly impressive work, making continued recognition a reflection of consistent dedication to the craft.

Awards Are an Honor—But They're Not the Goal

While these awards are accomplishments Tony is incredibly grateful for, they aren't what motivates him to tattoo.

The real reward is creating meaningful artwork that clients proudly wear for the rest of their lives.

Every tattoo represents someone's story, whether it's a memorial, portrait, sleeve, religious piece, wildlife scene, or a deeply personal design. Being trusted with that responsibility is something Tony has never taken lightly.

Competing simply provides another opportunity to challenge himself, receive feedback from respected peers, and continue raising the standard for his own work.

Bringing That Experience Home to Boise

One of the greatest benefits of traveling to conventions is bringing those experiences back home.

Every conversation with another artist, every seminar attended, every award-winning piece studied, and every competition entered contributes to continued growth. Tattooing is an art form that never stops evolving, and Tony believes that staying connected to the broader tattoo community ultimately benefits every client who walks through the doors of Chariot Tattoo Studio in Boise, Idaho.

Whether he's attending a convention to relax with friends, celebrate the traditions of tattooing, or compete against some of the industry's most talented artists, the mission remains the same: to continue growing as an artist and producing work that reflects the highest level of craftsmanship possible.

After 14 years in the industry, Tony still approaches every tattoo with the same mindset that earned him recognition across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, and Alaska—a commitment to continual improvement, technical excellence, and creating artwork that clients will be proud to wear for a lifetime.