Robert Ryan lives in Neptune, New Jersey, where he has been tattooing and painting for more than three decades. As co-owner of Electric Tattoo in Asbury Park, he has helped shape both contemporary and classical East Coast American tattooing.

Ryan is widely recognized for the esoteric, occult, and spiritual dimensions of his work on both skin and paper. His approach to what he calls “spiritual tattooing” reached a broader audience through his feature on the Vice documentary series Tattoo Age. His practice has since been documented through three acclaimed publications: The Inborn Absolute, Deity, and The Tarot Tantra Esoterica. Ryan has also appeared in interviews on podcasts including The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, Love Is the Author, and Be Here Now.

Alongside his visual work, Ryan is an active musician. His band Soma has toured nationally and released several records, blending devotional chanting, meditation, and experimental sound into a distinctive musical practice.

Ryan’s artwork has been exhibited internationally and published widely in books, catalogs, and album artwork.