Tattoo legend Mister Cartoon’s latest airbrush exhibit is a family affair – Press Enterprise

He became famous for his iconic black and grey, fine line-style tattoos that have adorned the bodies of hip-hop artists, rockers and movie stars.

But before he mastered the tattoo gun, Mister Cartoon, who was born Mark Machado, was using compressed air and paint to create his work as an airbrush artist, airbrushing T-shirts at swap meets and later adorning lowrider cars with his art.

To celebrate the artform that gave him his start, Cartoon has gathered some of the most exciting airbrush artists around and curated a new show dubbed “Under Pressure,” which opened at Beyond the Streets & Control Gallery on Nov. 3 and runs through Dec. 23.

“It’s something that’s not really taught in schools. It’s something that’s handed down and this is really celebrating artists that are rising in this artform,” said Cartoon, whose own tattoo and airbrush work has been displayed in fine art galleries around the world.

The show features dozens of pieces by 16 local and international artists who represent the present and future of the artform displaying their eclectic work on canvases. The art ranges from photorealistic images depicting things like street scenes, animals and classic cars to abstract works and script pieces.

“That’s one of the best things about this show. All these artists have unique and individual styles, all highlighting each other. Every style is represented from the hood street style to someone that has been formerly trained in art school,” Cartoon said.

This exhibition is a family affair for Cartoon since he handed down his talent to his young son, whose work will be included in the exhibition.

“I’m truly honored to curate this show and it’s even more amazing to have my boy in it,” Cartoon said. “He’s a great kid and he puts the hours in. It’s the time behind the scenes that counts.”

His 19-year-old son, Estevan Machado, who paints under the name Left-E, draws his distinct style and inspiration from the work of his father, and for the show he’s created two pieces featuring script art.

“I’ve always loved my father’s script, with the tattooing and in his graffiti side as well. I saw how he was able to balance things out and just incorporate lettering with visual images like his clowns and lowriders,” Machado said.

Airbrush culture

Airbrushing started gaining attention in the 1930s when it was used to create advertisements and later to paint Pin-Up girls on to the American aircrafts during World War II.

It also gained popularity during the Pop Art movement, with artists like James Rosenquist, Peter Palombi, Allen Jones and Andy Warhol creating airbrushed pieces. It was further cemented into local culture thanks to the lowrider movement when artists started pinstriping and airbrushing cars, as well as clothes.

For Cartoon, this show is meant to recreate the excitement he felt when he first got into airbrushing by showing off work meant to ignite the interest of a new generation while appreciating the evolution of this artform.

“This whole show is rare because using an airbrush in fine art is not something usually done,” Cartoon said.

Other artists in the exhibit include Gustavo Zermeño Jr., a respected muralist known for his larger-than-life portraits of athletes, celebrities and musicians and Jasmine Monsegue, also known as Spacebrat, who has designed murals for Virgil Abloh and has been featured in publications like Forbes and Vogue.

Passing the torch

Meanwhile, young Machado is already making a name for himself in the genre. He’s been featured in a group show in San Diego at the California Center for the Arts, he’s worked on projects with Nike and has personalized apparel for celebrities like Kevin Hart, Odell Beckham and Anderson Paak.

As a young kid it was seeing the lowriders that his dad adorned with his airbrush skills that inspired his love of art.

“As I got older I realized it was all done with an airbrush and I wondered if I could do that. And my dad kept influencing me and giving me that motivation and passion,” Machado said.

“I’m very honored and excited to be a part of this show,” he continued. “At the same time there is that pressure because my father is the one curating the show, he’s my biggest motivation and the one I look up to.”

“Under Pressure”

When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through Dec. 23

Where: Beyond the Streets & Control Gallery, 434 N La Brea Ave., Los Angeles

Tickets: Free admission. For more information, go to control.gallery

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