Kat Von D

Kat Von D

Von D in March 2016
Born Katherine von Drachenberg
(1982-03-08) March 8, 1982
Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico
Citizenship United States/Mexico
Occupation Tattoo artist, television personality, author, cosmetics entrepreneur
Website www.katvondbeauty.com

Katherine von Drachenberg, known as Kat Von D[1][2] (born March 8, 1982),[3] is an American tattoo artist, model, musician, entrepreneur, and television personality. She is best known for her work as a tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show LA Ink, which premiered in the United States on August 7, 2007, and ran for four seasons. She is also known for her cosmetics line that launched in 2008.

Early life

Von D was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico.[1][4] Her Seventh-day Adventist Church missionary parents,[4] father René and mother Sylvia or Silvia[5] Galeano, were born in Argentina,[6] of German, Italian and Spanish descent, respectively. Von D has a sister, Karoline[7] and a brother, Michael.[7] She moved with her family to the Los Angeles area at age 4 and grew up in Colton, California. Von D was classically trained in piano beginning at age 6.[8] She particularly appreciates Ludwig van Beethoven.[8]

Kat Von D credits her grandmother, Clara von Drachenberg, as an inspiration for her in music and art,[9] and the Latino culture of Los Angeles as a major influence on her tattoo art and style.[10] She began listening to the Ramones, Misfits, and other punk rock bands at the age of 12. She got her first tattoo at 14 and quit school at 16 to become a tattoo artist.[11][12]

Career

Von D at work in 2007

Von D appeared in two seasons of Miami Ink, the reality TV show taped at 305 Ink in Miami[13] for the cable network TLC. She was offered the position after Darren Brass broke his elbow,[14] preventing him from tattooing. She had a falling out with Ami James which led to her being asked to leave the shop.[15]

She subsequently acquired her own TLC series, LA Ink, which chronicled her work at her tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, in Hollywood, California. On the show, she gained the Guinness World Record of most tattoos given by a single person in 24 hours, with a total of 400.[16] Accomplished in December 2007, it involved a Von D-designed logo for the city of Los Angeles, with proceeds going to the children's-blindness charity Vitamin Angels.[17] Her record was subsequently broken by her ex-husband, Oliver Peck (415) on June 13, 2008,[17] followed by others; as of November 2008 the record is held by Hollis Cantrell from Artistic Tattoo in Phoenix, Arizona, with 801.[18] LA Ink ran four seasons, ending September 15, 2011; TLC announced the cancellation on August 18, 2011.[19] Von D has publicly said that the cancellation was because she chose not to continue doing the show.[20]

Von D in November 2015

Her first book, High Voltage Tattoo, compiling her artworks and tattoos, with a foreword by Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, was released in January 2009 and reached #6 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[21] Von D described the book as "not an autobiography, you know, 'cause I'm too young to do that. But this is just kind of like a picture-driven outline of my career as an artist. So, you see everything from my drawings when I was six to tattoos that have never before been seen."[22] Her second book, The Tattoo Chronicles, an illustrated diary following a year in her life, was released October 26, 2010, and reached #3 on The New York Times "Hardcover Advice & Misc." best-seller list.[23]

In 2008, Von D created and launched a make-up line for Sephora.[24] She has released new collections every year and has expanded her line to include fragrances. In 2012, through Sephora, her New American Beauty Art Tour benefitted the Art of Elysium charitable organization.[25] In June 2016, she announced that all products in the line would be reformulated to be vegan.[26] In August 2016, the line released a limited-edition lipstick named Project Chimps, with 20% of sales being donated to Project Chimps, an organization dedicated to providing care for retired research chimpanzees.[27]

Kat Von D continuously launches new cruelty free makeup products. She recently launched new products such as setting powder, concealers, new shades to her existing foundations and new packaging for the contour kit where they are now refillable.[28] Kat comes out with edgier packaging for her products. Her makeup line is available for purchase on her website in the US, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and in September 2016 it launched in the UK.[28]

Von D is the creator of the MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival,[29][30] which began in 2008.[31] Musink is an all ages Tattoo, Music, and Art festival located in Southern California.

On September 2, 2010, Von D opened the art gallery and boutique Wonderland Gallery in the space next door to High Voltage Tattoo.[32] She launched the clothing lines KVD Los Angeles and Kat Von D Los Angeles in the US and Canada in fall 2011, with the latter expanding internationally the following year.[33] In 2008, she began her own makeup line, Kat Von D.[34]

Kat Von D provided the female vocals to the song "Rosary Blue" on X, a 2012 studio album by the Finnish Gothic Rock band The 69 Eyes.[35] In August 2013, she tweeted that Dave Grohl and producer Danny Lohner had finished two tracks of an album she had talked about recording as early as 2011.[36]

Personal life

Von D in October 2011

Von D married fellow tattoo artist Oliver Peck in 2003.[37] They separated in August 2007,[38] and finalized their divorce later that year.[39]

In July 2007, Von D decided to quit drinking after it started to threaten her work.[40]

From February 2008 until January 2010, Von D dated Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx.[41][42] She subsequently began dating motorcycle customizer, West Coast Choppers CEO and reality TV personality Jesse James.[38] On August 19, 2010, Von D confirmed media reports that she and James were dating, tweeting, "I think it's pretty obvious that we're dating."[43] Von D and James became engaged in January 2011.[44] Von D announced that they had split in July 2011.[45][46] However, in August 2011, Von D and James announced that their engagement was back on.[47] In September 2011, Von D announced that she and James had broken up again.[48]

In September 2012, Von D began dating Canadian music producer Joel Zimmerman, known professionally as Deadmau5,[49] and gave him a star tattoo below his eye to match her own.[50] They broke up in November 2012.[50] However, on December 15, 2012, Zimmerman proposed to Von D over Twitter, and she accepted, becoming engaged to him.[51] In June 2013, Von D announced that she and Zimmerman had ended their engagement. Von D cited Zimmerman's alleged infidelity as the reason.[52]

In December 2015, Jackass star Steve-O confirmed being in a relationship with Von D. The pair split in March 2016 after months of dating.[53]

Von D has tattooed herself with the emblems of the bands HIM, Misfits, Turbonegro, ZZ Top, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Kent, Slayer, Mike Got Spiked and "Slutallica", a modified Metallica logo.[8] She appeared in the music video of HIM's "Killing Loneliness", Alkaline Trio's "Help Me" and "Black Leather" by Cholo Goth band Prayers. Other musical artists that Von D lists among her favorites include The Mars Volta and Selena.[54]

Kat is vegan and promotes a cruelty-free makeup line.[55] In 2016, she received Farm Sanctuary's "Compassion in Action Award" for her work on behalf of animal rights.[56]

Media

Von D was referred to in the Eagles of Death Metal song "High Voltage", which was named after her shop and is featured on their third album, Heart On. In an interview, Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes said, "I wrote that for Kat Von D, because that girl's bad ass."[57]

Television

In addition to cameo and talk-show appearances, her TV, film, and video game appearances include:

References

  1. 1 2 Rojas, Theresa N. (2013). Aldama, Frederick Luis, ed. Latinos and Narrative Media: Participation and Portrayal. New York, NY, United States: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 119. ISBN 9781137361783. Retrieved 9 September 2014. Katherine Von Drachenberg, who was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, and grew up in Colton, California, began tattooing friends at age 14
  2. ↑ Von D, Kat (2009). High Voltage Tattoo - The Autobiography of Kat Von D. HarperCollins. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-06-168438-8. Portrait of my father: Black-and-gray portrait of my father, Rene Von Drachenberg, in a high-school photo taken in Argentina in the 1960s. Note: Kat Von D's official biography gives father's name as simply "René Drachenberg": "Her father René Drachenberg and her mother Silvia Galeano were both born in Argentina, though René's family origins were German and Silvia's Spanish-Italian."
  3. ↑ "Kat Von D". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Von D, Kat (2009). "One Highway to Hell: The autobiography of Kat Von D". High Voltage Tattoo. United States: HarperCollins. p. 15. ISBN 9780061684388. Retrieved 9 September 2014. The first person who ever held me was my grandfather, Carlos Von Drachenberg. He was the doctor who delivered me in March 1982, in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico. I come from a long line of doctors. When I was born, my grandpa was teaching medicine in Mexico as a missionary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church Church while my father finished his schooling in the medical field. My family came from Argentina, but until I was four, we lived in Mexico.
  5. ↑ Von D, High Voltage Tattoo, p. 57
  6. ↑ "Facts about Kat : LA Ink". TLC. Archived from the original on November 14, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Von D, Kat (2010). The Tattoo Chronicles. HarperCollins. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-06-195336-1.
  8. 1 2 3 Geist, Brandon (June 2008). "Region of Blood". Revolver: 83.
  9. ↑ Von D, High Voltage Tattoo, p. 15
  10. ↑ "Kat Von D Exclusive!". En.Terra.com. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  11. ↑ Cooper, Leonie (July 11, 2008). "Life at the sharp end". The Guardian. London, UK. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009.
  12. ↑ Sorlie, Amy (January 2009). "LA Ink". American Way. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Additional WebCitation archive, August 14, 2011
  13. ↑ Hanks, Douglas "For TV's 'Miami Ink," Same is a Love-Hate Affair" (November 17, 2007) The Miami Herald p. A-1
  14. ↑ Sharer, Lisa (October 2006). "Kat Von D: Hot Ink". Prick. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "More tattoos on LA Ink" (PDF). VitatminAngels.org.
  17. 1 2 "Tattoo Records are Meant to be Broken". Tattoo.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Most tattoos in 24 hours by a single artist". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  19. ↑ Dyball, Rennie; Herndon, Jessica (August 18, 2011). "Kat Von D's Show, LA Ink, Is Cancelled". People. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012.
  20. ↑ Von D, Kat (August 18, 2011). Twitter post
  21. ↑ "Hardcover Advice & Misc.". The New York Times Best Seller list. February 22, 2009. This was the book's second week on the chart, and its highest chart position.
  22. ↑ "Kat Von D segment". Anytime with Bob Kushell. Season 1. Episode 7. January 29, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Hardcover Advice & Misc.". The New York Times Best Seller list. November 14, 2010.
  24. ↑ Beth Greenfield, "What Kat Von D's All-vegan Pledge Means for the Makeup World," Yahoo! Beauty, July 7, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Sephora Presents: Kat Von D's New American Beauty Art Tour". Sephora. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  26. ↑ Orofino, Emily. "Good News, Animal-Lovers: Kat Von D Beauty Plans to Go Vegan". POPSUGAR Beauty. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  27. ↑ Orofino, Emily. "Kat Von D Will Inspire You to Wear Red Lipstick For a Good Cause". POPSUGAR Beauty. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  28. 1 2 Capon, Laura. "Kat Von D Makeup FINALLY Comes to the UK." Cosmopolitan. N.p., 13 Sept. 2016. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
  29. ↑ Jackson, Nate (February 25, 2008). "Live Review: Kat Von D's MusInk Tattoo and Music Festival on 02/23". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010.
  30. ↑ Spelled "MusInk" per "Musink Tattoo Convention & Music festival". Musink.org. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011.
  31. ↑ Reitz, Allison (November 4, 2008). "Motörhead, Social Distortion tour with Kat Von D's 2009 Musink Festival". TicketNews.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010.
  32. ↑ WonderlandLA.com (official site)
  33. ↑ "Kat Von D/KVD Los Angeles :: Kat Von D's Clothing Lines". Katvondlosangeles.com. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  34. ↑ "About Kat Von D Beauty". Kat Von D Beauty. Kendo Holdings Group. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  35. ↑ Gehlke, David E. "The 69 Eyes - X (Nuclear Blast Records)". Blistering. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  36. ↑ Ladouceur, Liisa (August 16, 2013). "Kat Von D Album to Feature Dave Grohl on Drums". The Huffington Post.
  37. ↑ "Kat Von D's shady past". In Touch Weekly. September 24, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.
  38. 1 2 "'LA Ink' Star Sets the Record Straight About Her Relationship with Steve-O", BuddyTV.com, August 16, 2007
  39. ↑ "Jesse James' Ex: I Don't Want Our Daughter Going to His Las Vegas Wedding". RadarOnline.com. February 4, 2011. ... Von D, who divorced fellow tattoo artist Oliver Peck in 2007.
  40. ↑ "Kat Von D Celebrates Six Years Sober - The Fix". Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  41. ↑ Herndon, Jessica (October 8, 2008). "Nikki Sixx & Kat Von D 'Keep Getting Closer'". People.
  42. ↑ "NIKKI SIXX Confirms Split With KAT VON D". Blabbermouth.net. January 24, 2010.
  43. ↑ Grossberg, Josh (July 26, 2011). "Jesse James and Kat Von D: Anatomy of a Split". E! Online. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012.
  44. ↑ Leonard, Elizabeth; Herndon, Jessica (January 20, 2011). "Jesse James & Kat Von D Are Engaged". People. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011. Additional WebCitation archive.
  45. ↑ Leonard, Elizabeth (July 26, 2011), "Jesse James and Kat Von D Split", People, archived from the original on July 29, 2011, retrieved July 26, 2011
  46. ↑ "Kat Von D Walks Out on GDLA Interview", MyFoxLA.com (KTTV website), July 27, 2011. WebCitation archive.
  47. ↑ Leonard, Elizabeth; Fleeman, Mike (August 18, 2011). "Kat Von D and Jesse James: Their Engagement Is Back On!". People.
  48. ↑ "Kat Von D and Jessie James Split, Again". People. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  49. ↑ "Kat Von D Dating DJ Deadmau5!". Us Weekly. September 19, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  50. 1 2 "Deadmau5 and Kat von D break up". Toronto Star. November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  51. ↑ Fleeman, Mike (December 16, 2012). "Kat Von D Engaged to Deadmau5 – Who Proposed on Twitter!". People. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  52. ↑ Coughlan, Maggie (June 27, 2013). "Deadmau5 and Kat Von D End Engagement". People. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  53. ↑ Forrester, Katy (December 30, 2015). "Steve-O has moved on from ex Stacey Solomon". Daily Mirror. UK. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  54. ↑ "TLC :: LA Ink :: Q&A with Kat". Tlc.discovery.com. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  55. ↑ "My response to the "Vegan" controversy". YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  56. ↑ "30th Anniversary Gala". Farm Sanctuary. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  57. ↑ Powers, Nicole (November 5, 2008). "Eagles of Death Metal Part 2: Jesse Hughes". SuicideGirls.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  58. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 23, 2008). "Five Cut Teeth on 'Bleeding'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
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