Ryan Mettz is an artist based in New York City, known for his work as a painter and tattooist. In addition to these creative pursuits, Ryan enjoys surfing and secretly paints graffiti (don’t tell anyone). His ability to balance multiple disciplines makes him a compelling figure, constantly pushing boundaries and embracing the diverse opportunities the city offers. We caught up with Ryan for G-SHOCK to discuss his journey, life in New York, and how he stays inspired across different mediums. 

Photos by David Ai Wang
Video by Jesse Heath
Interview by Jesse Heath
Living Proof New York for G-SHOCK
Watch: G-SHOCK GM700

JESSE HEATH – What do you do, and where are you based?

RYAN METTZ – I’m a painter and tattooer based in Brooklyn, New York.

JESSE – How important is routine to you?

RYAN – Routine is pretty important to me. It definitely changes a lot, but it feels more productive or comfortable to have some sort of routine, especially living here. It can get pretty hectic if you’re busy all day, so routine helps me find some peace throughout the day.

JESSE – How do you maximize your time? Are you an early riser? Do you get to bed early, or plan things meticulously?

RYAN – I maximize my time by waking up early, usually by 8:00 a.m. I try to break up my day into sections. If I paint the whole day, by the end, I feel burnt out or lonely. So I’ll paint until maybe 2:00 p.m., then head outside, bike around, or go to the tattoo shop. Even if I don’t have tattoos to do, I’ll still go to hang out. I try to fill my day with productive activities, even if it sacrifices sleep.

JESSE – What came first for you? Painting or tattooing?

RYAN – Painting. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid. I found old drawings of aliens and planets from when I was in preschool. In school, I took all the art classes I could, and painting stuck with me throughout my life. Tattooing came later.

JESSE – Are you able to stay active across both disciplines of tattooing and painting?

RYAN – Yeah, I stay consistent with both because they balance each other out. I used to tattoo all the time and got burnt out. Then I focused on painting, but eventually started to miss tattooing. Tattooing gives instant satisfaction, while painting takes months to finish. It’s easy to shift between the two based on my schedule.

JESSE – Would people describe you as a timely person?

RYAN – I think people would say I’m pretty on time. I make an effort to be punctual if I say I’ll be somewhere.

JESSE – What’s your favorite way to spend your time?

RYAN – My perfect day would be to wake up, go surf, come back and chill for a bit, then paint in the studio. Painting is the most fun and fulfilling way to spend my time.

JESSE – Do you get something from tattooing that you don’t get from painting?

RYAN – Yeah, tattooing is more collaborative, which can be fun or frustrating, but it’s different from painting, which is solitary. Tattooing allows for social interaction, while painting is more introspective. It’s nice to have both.

JESSE – How would you describe your work?

RYAN – I’d describe my work as folk art. It’s a naive approach to painting since I never went to school for it. I figured it out through trial and error. My tattoos are influenced by traditional tattoo imagery, but I branch off and create new things in that folk art style.

JESSE – What early influences informed your work?

RYAN – I remember finding drawings my dad had done, like a bunch of people in Halloween costumes or architectural floor plans. I’d copy them in my room. Even though he doesn’t remember those drawings, they had an impact on me. Looking back, I think those early influences show in my work.

JESSE – What expectations do you have of yourself as an artist?

RYAN – The only expectation I have is to keep creating. If you paint all the time, that’s enough. Opportunities will come through consistent work.

JESSE – What challenges do you face in meeting those expectations?

RYAN – Time management. Living in New York, there’s always something to do, and my life has unfolded into different facets. Taking time to paint is the hardest but most important challenge.

JESSE – How have your expectations evolved over the years?

RYAN – Naturally, expectations grow as you have more experiences and accomplishments, like shows or collaborations. You start to expect more from yourself, but I also try to let things happen naturally while continuing to make work.

JESSE – What risks have you taken in your work?

RYAN – I try to take risks all the time, but it’s hard to define what’s risky. Sometimes, I’ll spend a week on a section of a painting, and then feel like something’s missing. So I’ll paint over it, which is risky because I might ruin it, but it usually leads to a better result.

JESSE – How do you navigate failure and regrets?

RYAN – Through mindfulness. It’s important to be aware of how things outside your control affect you. Social media can make you feel like everyone else is succeeding, but it’s often a narrative you create in your head. I try to watch those feelings and not let them get out of control.

JESSE – Do you allow pauses in your output?

RYAN – I don’t take pauses often, but with tattooing, it happens naturally. I might go a week without doing tattoos, but I always try to paint. Sometimes I take a day off if I feel burnt out, but the pauses are brief.

JESSE – Does your work reveal anything about your personal history?

RYAN – Yeah, a lot of my paintings are directly related to places I’ve spent time or people I know. I can look at each painting and tell you what’s going on, but I haven’t fully figured out how my deeper personal history connects to my work yet.

JESSE – Is authorship important to your practice?

RYAN – Yeah, I think authorship is important. It comes out through a recognizable style. With tattoos, it’s common for people to recognize who did them based on style. I want people to look at my work and know it’s mine, even if my name isn’t on it.

JESSE – How do you measure success in your work?

RYAN – I measure success by how I feel about a painting once it’s done. There’s always something new I’m exploring in each piece, whether it’s an idea or a detail. Progression is my marker of success.

JESSE – Does that same measure apply to your life outside of work?

RYAN – Yeah, recently I’ve been focused on personal growth. I’m trying to understand myself better, and as long as I’m learning or figuring something out, it feels like I’m making progress. That’s really important to me.

JESSE – What about New York City is timeless?

RYAN – The look of New York City is timeless. Even though it changes, certain elements like subway entrances, street signs, and iconic buildings make it distinct.

JESSE – What never changes about New York?

RYAN – The grind. Everyone here is hustling, whether for work, partying, or something else. It’s nonstop.

JESSE – Is tradition important to you?

RYAN – Yeah, the history and tradition in New York are important. So many people I look up to have lived and worked here. It feels like that energy is around, and if you’re here long enough, you tap into it. Tattooing, especially, has a rich history here.

JESSE – Does that tradition bring excitement or pressure?

RYAN – There’s some nostalgia in it. Things have changed a lot, and I imagine how cool it must have been back in the day. But it’s still cool to be part of that history in some way.

JESSE – Thank you.