Matthew Ray

@lunchbox_ink · Harrisburg, North Carolina · Tattoo artist

Tattooing at @royalempiretattoostudio // Email lunchboxinknc@gmail.com or DM to consult// Books open for tattoos & commissions

Matthew Ray is a tattoo artist in Harrisburg, North Carolina whose work centres on realism. Realism leads (19 of the 48 pieces on Perspectiv), with dotwork on another 6. About 38% of the pieces use colour, most often coral, burgundy and pink; the rest are black and grey. Compass, dragon, chrysanthemum and flowers come up again and again. The forearm and the shoulder are the usual placements. There are 34 healed pieces in the set, not just fresh work. Portfolio last updated August 2026.

Styles

Colour

Mostly black and grey, colour in 38% of pieces, measured across 42 segmented pieces.

Recurring colours: coral, burgundy, pink and navy.

What they tattoo

Subjects: compass, dragon, chrysanthemum, flowers, unicorn and flame.

Usually on the forearm, the shoulder and the thigh.

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Work

Tree realism tattoo on the shoulder by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaChrysanthemum dotwork tattoo on the shoulder by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaMexican warrior and serpent realism tattoo on the back by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaDemon dark realism tattoo on the shoulder by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaRabbit leaning on street lamp black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaOur Lady of Guadalupe black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaMermaid warrior realism tattoo on the thigh by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaInsect and flowers realism tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaDragon dotwork tattoo on the upper arm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaBalloons black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaWoman with snake realism tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaUnicorn black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaHorse and rider black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaWolf realism tattoo on the shoulder by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaRobotic character dotwork tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaBaby sloth dotwork tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaJoker realism tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaJack and Sally dark realism tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaUnicorn black and grey tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaDeathly hallows and flowers black and grey tattoo on the back by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaJester American traditional tattoo on the thigh by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaRuby slippers realism tattoo on the forearm by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaLettering lettering script tattoo on the torso by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North CarolinaGoat skull realism tattoo on the shoulder by Matthew Ray, Harrisburg, North Carolina