The mastermind behind the Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth, Mario Barth
is a pioneer of the tattoo world, making his impact in the industry in more
ways than one. As the CEO of Starlight Enterprises, Mario has several
locations in New Jersey and Vegas, including Starlight Tattoo at the
Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, as well as the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
His is the first tattoo studio in a major casino on the Las Vegas strip. With
studios on both coasts, he isn’t stopping there. His latest venture includes
King Ink Studio at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Barth is
also the creator and founder of INTENZE Products, the first company to
label tattoo ink, once again revolutionizing the tattoo world as we know it.
As a tattoo artist himself, Mario set out to produce a quality ink that he
wanted to use. Though his intention in the beginning wasn’t to become
a supplier, many saw the quality and his ink spread like wildfire. The
demand was incredible. When he did his first tattoo back in 1978, he
realized that he, as well as many others didn’t have easy access to machines, needles, and colors. What started in his kitchen with basic black
ink and a blender became known as the world’s leading tattoo pigment
and manufacturer. Today, INTENZE Products produces over 250 colors in
a clean manufacturing facility. Products are sterilized, mixed, and bottled
in a Clean Room, and each bottle is tested and validated by third-party
labs. INTENZE Products has come a long way since its inception, but
Mario insists on staying true to his roots. It is a product created by an
artist, for the artists.
Becoming the tattoo artist Mario is today wasn’t easy. Hailing from
Austria, tattooing was illegal in his day. It was an underground art form
that he couldn’t stay away from. He did his first tattoo at the young age of
twelve, something that seemed to come naturally to him. Enamored, he
began to learn the tricks of the trade through various figures he looked
up to, perfecting his craft through the years. Over the years, Barth has
won over 200 International Awards and acquired a celebrity clientele. In
2009, The Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth set the Guinness World Record
for the largest tattoo convention in history. Mario Barth excels at breaking
barriers and making history. Today, his legacy continues in his art, tattoo
studios, shows, and tattoo pigment.
46
InkSpIredMagazIne.coM