Mister Cartoon, born on May 18, 1970, is a well-known tattoo and graffiti artist. His work is so illustrious that he is popularly known as the “tattooist to the stars.” The tattoo artist set up a shop in the early 1990s on the edge of Los Angeles and thereafter began a cultural revolution. Here is everything you need to know about Mister Cartoon.
Fast Facts
Birth date:
May 18, 1969
Age:
54 years, 11 months
Zodiac Sign:
Taurus
Background
In the recent cultural history of America, there was a time when graffiti was considered vandalism and tattoos were definite markers of bona fide gangsters. Today, everyone, from media moguls to the average Joe, embraces arm sleeves of intricate ink, and graffiti is an art genre. This remarkable transformation to our cultural D.N.A. is partly due to artists like Mister Cartoon.Mister Cartoon was born Mark Machado on May 18, 1970. He prefers to go by his alias Mister Cartoon. He was born and brought up in Los Angeles, U.S., and was immersed in art from a young age. He first started his career as a graffiti artist and then branched out to create album covers, murals, logos, and tattoos, his most popular art form. His hand-rendered and richly detailed designs draw inspiration from the L.A. of his youth. Notable names in the music industry, like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent, and athletes, such as Carlos Boozer, C.C. Sabathia, and Amar’e Stoudemire, wear his art on their skin. His work in other media has also garnered widespread acclaim, resulting in art shows and gallery appearances in Tokyo, Paris, and London. He also runs a lifestyle-marketing agency in L.A. named SA Studios Global, along with famed photographer Estevan Oriol. Moreover, he has created art for Microsoft, Toyota, Nike, Harley-Davidson, Fox, T-Mobile, Vans, Grand Theft Auto, and Universal.
Career timeline
He appears in “Scarface: Origins of a Hip Hop Classic.”
He makes his first music video appearance in the video for Eminem's song ‘Stan.’
He appears in the Netflix documentary “LA Originals” along with Estevan Oriol.
He is selected to star in the television commercials for Modelo Beer.
Mister Cartoon FAQs
Is Mister Cartoon married?
Yes, he is married and has four kids.
Is Mister Cartoon Mexican?
Yes, he is of Mexican descent.
Is Mister Cartoon still tattooing?
He still works at his private tattoo studio in downtown Los Angeles.
5 Surprising Facts
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The Shady Records’ logo
He created the logo for Shady Records with Eminem.
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He has a streetwear clothing brand
Mister Cartoon runs Joker Brand Clothing in collaboration with Estevan Oriol and B-Real.
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He loves hip-hop music
The tattoo artist is an ardent lover of all things hip-hop.
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His style is influenced by the greats
He drew inspiration in the art world from Jack Rudy, Baby Ray, and Bob Roberts, who affected his style, known as fine line tattooing.
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He is hip-hop’s official tattoo artist
He was named “hip-hop’s official tattoo artist” by “The Source,” the magazine of hip-hop music, culture, and politics.
Why We Love Mister Cartoon
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The endearing origin of his nickname
Mister Cartoon earned his nickname from his close friends in high school. His friends began calling him “Cartoon” or “Toons” for his drawing skills and outgoing personality. The name stuck and he carried it on into his adult life, later adding the “Mister.”
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His humble beginnings
Born into a Mexican family in the Harbor area of L.A., he has truly modest beginnings. Growing up, he frequently got into legal troubles, even serving jail time for petty crimes, but later, he decided to use street life as an expression through art.
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He gives back to society
Service to the community has always been an essential part of his career. The artist, therefore, participates in monthly outreach programs and shares his knowledge with young people. Furthermore, he devotes time and effort to several community-based initiatives. For instance, all proceeds from the release of Nike Sportswear x Livestrong x Mister Cartoon Air Force 1 went into the Lance Armstrong Foundation in a bid to fight cancer.
Mister Cartoon’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 18 | Thursday |
| 2024 | May 18 | Saturday |
| 2025 | May 18 | Sunday |
| 2026 | May 18 | Monday |
| 2027 | May 18 | Tuesday |
