Mark Mahoney
Encyclopedia
Mark Mahoney is a Boston born tattoo artist, considered the "founding father" of black and grey art with a single needle.
Mahoney has said he knew what he wanted to do with his life when he was fourteen and hanging around with this "little greaser gang" and stepped into Buddy Mott's Tattoo Spot in Newport, Rhode Island. He said he has always been attracted to the idea that tattoos are "art for the people", art for the everyday man or woman. His early inspirations included cars, choppers, and religious artifacts. He is most known for his black and grey work, and more specifically images of religious icons, old school collages, girls, bombs, and guns.
When Mahoney first became interested in tattoo art, it was during a time period "when you had to be an outlaw, or you had to be a real brave soul to get a tattoo." With today's ease of tattoo removal and creams to make the process less painful, some of that appeal is gone, he said.
Biography
Many in the business consider Mahoney a living legend. He currently owns and is the principal artist at the Shamrock Social Club on Sunset Boulevand in Hollywood, CA. Mahoney started his work as a tattoo artist in Boston in 1977 (when tattooing there was illegal), where he was in the midst of the 1970s punk scene. He has stayed relevant and influential in the tattoo world ever since. He was a pivotal force during the 1980s black and grey movement, and has tattooed some of Hollywood's biggest names.Mahoney has said he knew what he wanted to do with his life when he was fourteen and hanging around with this "little greaser gang" and stepped into Buddy Mott's Tattoo Spot in Newport, Rhode Island. He said he has always been attracted to the idea that tattoos are "art for the people", art for the everyday man or woman. His early inspirations included cars, choppers, and religious artifacts. He is most known for his black and grey work, and more specifically images of religious icons, old school collages, girls, bombs, and guns.
When Mahoney first became interested in tattoo art, it was during a time period "when you had to be an outlaw, or you had to be a real brave soul to get a tattoo." With today's ease of tattoo removal and creams to make the process less painful, some of that appeal is gone, he said.
Notable Clients
A self professed people person, Mark creates a laid back atmosphere in his shop that celebrities appreciate. Here is a list of some of his celebrity clients:- Jared LetoJared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
- Shannon LetoShannon LetoShannon Leto is an American drummer and an occasional actor. He is the older brother of musician and actor Jared Leto; both are part of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. -Career:...
- Janina Richter
- Mickey RourkeMickey RourkePhilip Andre "Mickey" Rourke, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter and retired boxer, who has appeared primarily as a leading man in action, drama, and thriller films....
- Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
and Angelina JolieAngelina JolieAngelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the... - Johnny DeppJohnny DeppJohn Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
- The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
- CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
- Heather LocklearHeather LocklearHeather Deen Locklear is an American actress best known for her television roles as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty, Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J...
- Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
- David BeckhamDavid BeckhamDavid Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
- Maya Lake
- Nicole RichieNicole RichieNicole Camille Richie is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Her father was Peter Michael Escovedo, a musician who played for a brief time with Lionel Richie, and her mother Karen was the executive assistant for Sheila Escovedo...
- Robert LaSardoRobert LaSardoRobert LaSardo is an American actor.LaSardo began his career studying at the famed High School of Performing Arts in New York City, before going on to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Robert also spent four years in the U.S...
- Fearne CottonFearne CottonFearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
- Redman
- Fred DurstFred DurstWilliam Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
- Mike DirntMike DirntMichael Ryan Pritchard is an American musician, best known as the bassist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the American Rock band Green Day. While at school, he would play "air-bass." While pretending to pluck the strings, he made the noise, "dirnt, dirnt, dirnt"...
- Cheryl ColeCheryl ColeCheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
Featured In
- A&E 2006 series of inked
- Vanity Fair (magazine)Vanity Fair (magazine)Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
- Swindle MagazineSwindle MagazineSwindle was a bi-monthly arts and culture publication founded in 2004 by artist Shepard Fairey. Swindle has not been published since 2009 and is, in effect, folded....
- Skin and Ink Magazine
- GQ
- Flash
- Garage
- [losangeles.citysearch.com] best tattoo parlors in Los Angeles
Children's Clothing Line
Mahoney also designs for a clothing line for children called babyeggi. This company has a charitable component, donating 20% of their net proceeds to "grassroots non-profit organizations dedicated to making the lives of children better, and to pass on the important principle of giving back to the community."External links
- video of Mark Mahoney in the Shamrock Social Club "Where the elite and the underworld meet."
- Mark's artwork