Since 2016, Mr. Klose’s life has never been the same. Even though he had already been tattooing for years at the time and was already exploring different styles…
Marco, can you tell me something about yourself?
I am 46 years old and have been tattooing for about 12 years. I was born with artistic creativity. I like drawing, modeling and sculpting. At the beginning it was just a hobby and I worked in a large pharmaceutical company, until I was lucky enough to take part in the TV project ‘Pain and Fame’ in 2016.
I won that TV contest and so the decision to become a full-time tattoo artist was easy. I have never regretted this step because it is not work if you turn your hobby into a career.
Let’s talk about it further. In the autumn of 2016 you won the tattoo competition show ‘Pain and Fame’ which aired in Germany on Sixx TV. So do you think that award and that television popularity were useful for your subsequent career?
Yeah! After ‘Pain and Fame’ aired and won, my life changed completely. I experienced a lot with Mario Bath (IG: @mariobarthtattoo) from Intenze Tattoo Ink, who sponsored the TV show.
What did you win that time?
The main prize of the show was to create your own color set in Las Vegas at Intenze. During several visits to Las Vegas I met many famous people: Tommy Lee, Brittany Furlan, Vanilla Ice, Murray the Magican and many more.
There have been many inquiries from other TV channels. Well-known tattoo studios wanted me to come visit them to work.
Your style seems to me to be the “best of both worlds” in the sense that you skillfully juggle between a Realistic that explodes with colors and a refined Black-n-Gray. What do you think about it?
My style is very diverse. I like to tattoo Realistic subjects but also other styles such as Comics, Pop Art or even Neo-Traditional motifs mixed with Chicano. I also really enjoy doing both color and Black-and-Gray tattoos. Sometimes I also dare to do blackwork or dottwork. I never stop learning and I am always trying things out.
Who would you like to say thank you to for coming this far?
Well there are many who have inspired me and from whom I always get new artistic vibes. I never stop learning and I am always ready to take on new things in order to develop myself further.
Tattooing is a never-ending learning process.
Can you tell me something about your tattoo studio (‘Marco Klose Tattoo’) located in the little town of Pfungstadt and what it’s like to work with your colleagues Boris and Ivailo?
Our tattoo studio in Pfungstadt (IG: @marcoklose_official) employs three tattoo artists (Boris, Ivailo and me), each with their own tattoo style, so we have an interesting range of different tattoo styles on offer for you.
We can do: Realistic tattoos, color work, Black-and-Gray tattoos, mandala, sketch, watercolor work, linework, dotwork, blackwork, lettering, portraits, comic and cardboard tattoos, lettering, but also small tattoos. We are a family team and have a lot of fun every day.
Can you tell me about an indelible memory of yours linked to a particular tattoo convention?
Of course, winning ‘Pain and Fame’ but also winning 3rd place in Black-and- Gray at the ‘God of Inks’ (IG: @godsofinktattooconvention) in Frankfurt.
What will be the unmissable conventions on your trips in 2024?
This year I will be seen at the ‘God of inks’, ‘Brussels Tattoo Convention’ (IG: @bxlstattooconvention) and the ‘Elite Tattoo Convention’ in Duisburg. Next year Milano and Paris will be there again.
And your last famous words are…
Enjoy your life and make the world more colorful!