‘Promise fulfilled’ for tattoo titan Ryan Henry

Freehand tattoo artist Ryan Henry’s love of art, a work ethic instilled in him by his father and a promise made to his sister made him a powerhouse in the tattoo game, and a creative role model on TV.

For five seasons, Chicago’s tattoo scene has been thrust in the spotlight by Henry and the talented bench of artists in his shop on VH1’s hit TV show “Black Ink Crew Chicago.” The sixth season debuts at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The show, the second installment of VH1’s “Black Ink Crew” franchise, follows the daily interactions and inkings of several African American and Latino tattoo artists from across the city. But, the show almost didn’t make it to the airwaves.

Henry wasn’t seeking the limelight for something that he enjoyed doing, and he simply wasn’t a TV guy.

“I didn’t want to do television, but I had to think about everyone I work with. It was about expanding them. If I put these people in a shop to create opportunities to expand, how selfish would I be to deny them this high level of exposure and expansion to be on a TV show. It was about growing everyone. I’m at the top, but I don’t want to be there alone,” said Henry, who now employs more than a dozen artists.

So, how did Henry, 33, get to the point of being seen on our screens? It started with a layoff, a desire to not go back to the street life and an investment.

Henry was 22 and working as a conductor for Union Pacific, alongside his father. He had a stable job and made good money. Things were going well until he was laid off. He had no idea what was next, and ran out of money.

During a three-day stretch, he saw a friend, Van Johnson, tattoo everyone in the barbershop they went to and it piqued his interest. He was intrigued by the number of clients Johnson had each day, and the money that was made from it.

An artist since his toddler years, Henry channeled the skills honed with help from his grandfather and gave tattooing a try. Things were tough in the beginning and he and another friend, Chelsea, tried to self-teach, but messed up the tattoos they tried on fake skin. They knew they needed to do an apprenticeship to up their game, but they couldn’t afford the $2,000 price tag.

He asked his older sister, Nova Henry, for the money. As one of the rocks in the family, big sister was willing to assist.

“She was stern like my daddy, and one of the main staples in the family. She knew I was on some BS about things, but she asked me if I was serious about it,” he said.

Little brother assured her he was, and they were supposed to meet the next week to finalize things. Then, tragedy hit home.

The day before Nova was to give him the money, the siblings and their children spent the day together. The next day, he was hit with a message that Nova and her infant daughter, Ava, were slain during a domestic violence incident.

Henry’s world shifted.

In the midst of the family trying to cope with the loss of their loved one, his parents decided to fulfill Nova’s mission by funding the apprenticeship she and Henry discussed.

“Once she was taken away, the family started falling apart. I had to bottle up my pain to be strong for everyone else. I put that strength into tattooing [in my house], and within a month I had a house full of people every day, almost 24 hours each day,” he said.

That was a decade ago.

Four years after her death, Henry opened 9MAG, 2150 S. Canalport Ave., and recently started 9MAG Foundation to help women and children in shelters, and others less fortunate.

9MAG, 2150 S. Canalport Ave., Chicago | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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9MAG entry door, 2150 S. Canalport Ave., Chicago | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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9MAG merchandise | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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Ryan Henry inside his 9Mag tattoo shop. | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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A memorial wall inside Ryan Henry’s office for his sister, Nova Henry, and niece, Ava Curry. | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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Ryan Henry and Earl “Greezy” Hubbard, Henry’s business mentor and the general manager of 9MAG. Artwork by “Greezy.” | Jermaine Nolen/Sun-Times

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Tattoo by Ryan Henry of 9MAG | Ryan Henry/9magtattoo.com

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Tattoo by Ryan Henry of 9MAG | Ryan Henry/9magtattoo.com

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Tattoo by Ryan Henry of 9MAG | Ryan Henry/9magtattoo.com

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Tattoo by Ryan Henry of 9MAG | Ryan Henry/9magtattoo.com

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Tattoo by Ryan Henry of 9MAG | Ryan Henry/9magtattoo.com

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He’s been on a mission to keep his word to his sister.

“It’s been 10 years now, and I put my whole mindset into it. I haven’t let up on that. I outwork everybody around me. All the accomplishments, the show, everything.” An emotional Henry paused. “I will never be able to show her the things I’ve done. She’ll never be able to say it’s good, or it’s this.”

Henry takes pride in knowing that he’s been a “promise fulfilled,” but it wasn’t an easy road. He’s had challenges along the way, and credits a colleague for the support and guidance that’s sustained him since opening the doors of the shop.

If it wasn’t for fellow artist Earl “Greezy” Hubbard, who is also the general manager of 9MAG, he wouldn’t have the business acumen to remain in business, employ others and lift others as he climbs.

Hubbard has been by his side through the good, the bad and now back to the good, Henry said.

“I was being investigated. I was kicked off the show. I was kicked out of the shop. None of my friends supported me when my relationship was in the worst place and I got put out of my house. I was at rock bottom. But, I had someone who still saw the potential in me and picked me back up,” Henry said about Hubbard, who he considers a brother.

Hubbard refused to let Henry fall behind and made sure he kept his eyes on the prize, which was still challenging.

“He saw what I didn’t know and gave me the tools to start learning business. He gave me things to read, and things to listen to. And when I didn’t stay on that path, he had the patience to let me know that wasn’t what I needed to be doing and helped guide me to where I needed to be. That brother helped me through my hard times when I was tattooing in the basement of a place that nobody even knew I had. I commend him for that,” a grateful Henry said.

When Hubbard learned he was considered Henry’s mentor, he was surprised and honored.

“Wow. I’m glad I have my shades on because I’m getting misty-eyed,” he said, turning to Henry and the two hugged.

“Real talk, I appreciate you man,” Henry said to Hubbard.

When Henry’s not in the shop or traveling to tattoo conventions, he’s volunteering for Hashtag Lunchbag, giving motivational speeches at various schools and donating clothes, food and toys to those in need.

His experience with Hashtag Lunchbag, an organization that feeds the homeless, gave him the inspiration to start his own foundation.

While handing out food one Saturday at Pacific Garden Mission, he had the rare opportunity to visit the floor that housed women and their children. There was one boy who came in the room where sandwiches and bananas were being passed out. As joy came across the little tyke’s face after he received a banana, Henry couldn’t help but notice his ragged shoes.

It struck a nerve in Henry.

“These are women who can’t afford anything for them. They can’t go outside and be in the park. They’re without toys unless things are donated. They [shelter] don’t get the funding to be able to do anything for them. That boy was so happy to get that banana. And some of the kids never had candy before. What kind of child has never had candy? At that point, it hit me so hard because I had a son that was around that age at the time. It messed me up and I had to walk out the room,” he said.

He realized he had a responsibility to give to those who fell on hard times, especially those with children. It tore him up knowing that many children can’t enjoy the simple pleasures of life such as a trip to the zoo, going down a slide at the park or just playing with toys outside.

“Why wouldn’t I give what I have to them when I know I can get more? That’s also why I work hard. Nothing is done if you can’t give to someone else ... help someone else. I would want someone to help me if I was down,” he said.

He makes it a priority to make a monthly donation to organizations assisting underserved communities.

“You can pay your tithes outside of going to church. That’s how our life should be,” Henry said.

For more information: RyanHenry@WiteGold.com.