Mark Machado, “Mister Cartoon”: Icon of Tattoos and Graffiti in LA

Mister Cartoon, the tattoo artist to the stars, is a legend in Los Angeles‘ tattoo scene. He began his career as a graffiti artist before branching out into murals, album covers, logos, and has since become best known for his tattoos.

Mark Machado, better known as “Mister Cartoon,” was born in 1969 to middle-class Mexican-American parents and grew up in the Harbor area of South Los Angeles. His parents encouraged his artistic interests by taking him to see auteur films and introducing him to disco and psychedelic rock music.

His designs, richly detailed and handcrafted, are heavily inspired by the Los Angeles of Cartoon’s youth. At one point, the fine-line black-and-gray style was synonymous with LA street life. Cartoon’s work has helped bridge the gap between those gritty beginnings and the current popularity of the style. Stars like Eminem, Travis Barker, Slash, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg, along with athletes like CC Sabathia, Kobe Bryant, Lewis Hamilton, and Carlos Boozer, proudly wear Cartoon’s art on their skin.

The popularity of Mister Cartoon in art and tattooing

Having gained a global following thanks to his tattoos, Mister Cartoon has also attracted a diverse and devoted fan base through his work in other media. This has led to acclaimed gallery shows and art exhibitions in London, Paris, Tokyo, and beyond.

Mister Cartoon’s art has been featured in numerous publications, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Complex, Juxtapoz, XXL, and GQ. His custom mural-adorned car collection and artwork have been showcased internationally, from art exhibits in London and Japan to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. His style and art transcend many artistic mediums.

But of course, Mr. Cartoon doesn’t only tattoo famous people. His studio is quite hidden in Los Angeles, where dozens of people visit daily to see his work and, if lucky, leave with a piece of his art marked on their skin, ranging from large tattoos to minimalistic ones.

His expertise in tattoo art and his insights are prominently featured in the Netflix documentary series “LA Originals,“ which highlights Mr. Cartoon and a wave of successful Chicano culture, showcasing their achievements in one of the most versatile cities in the world: Los Angeles. The documentary, directed by Oriol himself, includes a compilation of unreleased material and exclusive interviews, making this series an episode worthy of the narrative of any iconic rap video from the ’80s.

Did you already know the work of this famous tattoo artist?