Mark Mahoney
Shamrock Social Club
WE SAT WITH MARK MAHONEY AND DISCUSSED WHAT INSPIRES HIM TO BE A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
Mark Mahoney is a Boston born tattoo artist, considered the "founding father" of black and grey art with a single needle.
Many in the business consider Mahoney a living legend. He currently owns and is the principal artist at the Shamrock Social Club on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. Mahoney started his work as a tattoo artist in Boston in 1977 (when tattooing there was illegal), where he was in the midst of the 1970s punk scene. He has stayed relevant and influential in the tattoo world ever since.
Mark has done many fundraisers at his tattoo shop for individuals in need and regularly donates Shamrock Social Club gift certificates to charities to be raffled or auctioned off. Mark started tattooing outlaw bikers that were all Vietnam veterans. Those were the cool guys in the neighborhood that he looked up to. He has been a continued supporter of veteran causes over the years. Being influenced by the chicano culture with his tattoo style he has been a supporter of Father Boyle's Homeboy Industries, which provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women. He's recently worked with Woodcraft Rangers, which supports kids and the arts. Mark says his work and art has enabled him to connect with humanity on a deeper level. His advice to people,
"Find out what you're passionate about and if you follow your passion and you see how fulfilled that makes you. You want other people to feel that feeling. You can figure out how to give anybody a leg up. And remember the people that helped you get to the place you are."
