Kat Von D

Infobox_Person
name = Kat Von D
residence = Los Angeles, California
other_names = Katherine Drachenberg

---

image_size = 250px
caption = Kat Von D
birth_name = Katherine Von Drachenberg
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|3|08
birth_place = Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
death_date =
Spouse = Oliver Peck (2004-2007)
death_cause =
known =
occupation = Tattoo artist|date=August 2007

Kat Von D (born Katherine Von Drachenberg on March 8, 1982) is a Mexican-American tattoo artist and television personality. She is best known for her work as a featured tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show "Miami Ink". A subsequent TLC series starring Von D, "LA Ink", premiered August 7, 2007 in the United States and November 11, 2007 in the UK.

Biography

Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Von D moved to the United States when she was four, settling in Colton, California.cite web|url=http://www.katvond.net/bio.html|title=Bio of Kat Von D|last=Flatmo|first=Kore|work=katvond.net (personal web site of Kat Von D)|publisher=Kat Von D (self-published)|accessdate=2008-06-03] Her father René von Drachenberg is of German descent and her mother, Sylvia Galeano has latin-Italian roots.cite web|url=http://www.katvond.net/bio.html|title=Bio of Kat Von D|last=Flatmo|first=Kore|work=katvond.net (personal web site of Kat Von D)|publisher=Kat Von D (self-published)|accessdate=2008-06-03] She speaks fluent Spanish and English. She has a brother Michael and a sister named Karoline.

Growing up in the Inland Empire, she made her first tattoo in 1996 with a homemade rig at age 14, an old english "J" on her ankle, a memento of a love gone-by.. [ [http://www.katvond.net/bio.html Official Kat von d website ] ] In 1998, she began working in her first professional shop, Sin City Tattoo. This was a great period of growth in her work and led to her eventually moving to True Tattoo for a chance to work with Clay Decker and Chris Garver. This afforded her the opportunity to live and work in Hollywood, Los Angeles. [ [http://www.katvond.net/ k a t v o n d.net] ] While working at True Tattoo, Von D met her ex-husband, Oliver Peck, and occasionally worked at his tattoo shop "Elm Street Tattoo" in Dallas, Texas. While in Texas she sought out the best tattooist she could find to get some art work of her own. She was featured in the 2008 book "Permanence: Tattoo Portraits" by artist Kip Fulbeck.

In 2008 Kat von D was the subject of controversy when it was alleged that, after being fired from Miami Ink, she delivered an autographed picture of herself to her former boss, Ami James, on which was written "Burn in Hell Jewbag" cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/08/kat-von-d-anti-semite/|title=Kat Von D -- Next Mel Gibson?] cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2008-05-15/news/ink-stained/|title=LA Weekly - "Kat Von D"] . The note also contained sketches of a swastika and a burning Star of David. Although another tattoo artist, Chris Garver, claimed Kat von D handed him the letter personally cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/08/kat-von-d-anti-semite/|title=Kat Von D -- Next Mel Gibson?] , she maintains it was a forgery cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2008-05-15/news/ink-stained/|title=LA Weekly - "Kat Von D"] .

Outside tattooing

*Besides her tattoo career, Von D has appeared in a version of HIM's music video for "Killing Loneliness". She has appeared on such shows as "Tom Green's House Tonight", "Late Night with David Letterman", "Jimmy Kimmel Live", and "The Ellen Degeneres Show". Von D also appeared in both Viva La Bam and Bam's Unholy Union both of which were shows of Bam Margera.

*She is sponsored by the soda company Jones Soda [ [http://www.jonessoda.com/files/kat_von_d.php Kat Von D: with Jones Soda Co ] ] and has worked with Vitamin Angels, a non-profit organization that fights child blindness caused by vitamin deficiencies. [cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS195825+08-Jan-2008+MW20080108|title=' Kat Von D Tattoos 400 People to Save 32,000 Children in 24 Hours for Vitamin Angels |accessdate=2008-03-04 |author= Claustro, Lisa |date=2008-01-18]

*Von D has collaborated with professional skateboarders Bam Margera, Chad Muska, and Mike Vallely on their new skateboard deck graphics.

*Von D started Musink, which is a collaboration between famous bands and tattooers alike. In February 2008 Musink opened for the first time at the Orange County fairgrounds. [cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23271198 |title=Musink, a celebration of tattoos and rock, comes to Costa Mesa |accessdate=2008-03-04 |date=2008-02-21]

*She is currently dating Nikki Sixx, the bassist for Mötley Crüe and

*Von D has recently designed her own brand of makeup products, collaborating with Sephora.

*Von D also starred in the video for "Help Me", Alkaline Trio's first single off of their album "Agony and Irony".

*In 2007 Von D was one of the contributors to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb along with Dita Von Teese, Jessicka, Tori Amos, Cherie Currie of The Runaways, Terri Nunn, Lisa Loeb, Katy Perry, Samantha Maloney, Betsey Johnson, Anna Sui, and Louise Post. [ [http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/cherry-bomb-carrie-borzillo-vrennas-ultimate-how-to-for-budding-rock-chicks/19335/ LA WEEKLY July 30, 2008] ] [cite news |last=D'Andrea | first = Nicole| title =Living Like A Rockstar| publisher =PLAY New haven | date = 2002-04-03 | url =http://www.playnewhaven.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19879434&BRD=2639&PAG=461&dept_id=531120&rfi=6 |accessdate = 2008-08-13]

*Kat is in the upcoming 2009 movie entitled "The Bleeding", in which she plays the role of Vanya, a Vampire. [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1206881/fullcredits#cast |date=2008-10-5]

References

External links

* [http://www.katvond.net/news.html Kat Von D Official Website]
*imdb name|2507879
*tv.com person|416051|Kat Von D
*MySpace|katvond|Kat Von D
* [http://www.highvoltagetattoo.com/artists_kat.html Kat Von D at Highvoltagetattoo.com]
* [http://inkedmag.com/inked_people/15/ Kat Von D Inked Mag interview]
*cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/08/entertainment/et-laink8|title=Marked sensation|date=2008-01-06|work=latimes.com|publisher=LA Times|accessdate=2008-06-03
* [http://www.yuppiepunk.org/2006/12/qa-kat-von-d-of-miami-ink.html Q&A with Kat Von D] discussing reality TV, her favorite artists and what's on her iPod
* [http://www.juliland.com/itunes/Episode.57%20%E2%80%A2%20Kat%20Von%20D.mp3 Kat Von D podcast interview] at Juliland.com
* [http://www.katvondposters.com Kat Von D bio] Persondata
NAME= D, Kat Von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Drachenberg, Katherine von
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Tattoo artist
DATE OF BIRTH= March 8, 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH= Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=