Kari Barba Explained

Nationality:American
Known For:Illustrative Realism style tattooing
Kari Barba
Birth Place:Minneapolis
Birth Date:10 July 1960

Kari Barba (born July 10, 1960) is an American tattoo artist and painter from Minneapolis.[1] Barba has been practicing art for over 40 years and is best known for her work for women within the tattoo industry.[2] Barba is based in Long Beach, California. She is the owner of Outer Limits Tattoo, the oldest tattoo shop in the United States.[3]

Background

At 19 years old, Barba began her tattoo art career.[4] In 1980, she moved from Minnesota to California to pursue tattooing full time.[5] By 1983, she opened her first tattoo shop in Anaheim, California, Twilight Fantasy.[6] [7] From the beginning, Barba prioritized hiring female tattooers in order to diversify the notoriously male industry.[8]

Since 1985, Barba has earned more than 500 awards for tattoo excellence. She won the Best Tattooist and also Best Overseas Tattooist twice.[9] In 1985, she won Best Black and Grey Tattoo in Seattle, WA.[10] In 1987, she won her first National Tattoo Associations' Tattooist of the Year.[11]

Barba is known for her illustrative realism style.[12] She is one of the first artists to tattoo in the style of color realism.[13] Barba was one of the first tattoo artist to wear gloves and wrap her equipment, and therefore recognized for spearheading the sterile standards in the tattoo industry.

Her accomplishments include the acquisition of a historically important tattoo shop and museum. In 2002, Barba acquired 22 S. Chestnut Pl in Long Beach.[14] The location, originally opened by renowned tattooist Bert Grimm, has operated as a tattoo shop since 1927.[15] The shop also houses a tattoo museum paying tribute to The Pike and artists past.[16]

A silicone arm tattooed by Barba was featured in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in 2018.[17] Barba is regularly part of the jury of experts for the Mondial du Tatouage in Paris, France.[18]

Barba's 4th and final apprentice was tattooist Jenny Nguyen.[19]

Exhibitions

Personal life

Barba's son, Jeremiah Barba, is a tattooist and shop owner.[23]

References

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: From Bert Grimm to Outer Limits, This Long Beach Tattoo Shop Remains the Oldest in the World – OC Weekly. 2022-02-19. www.ocweekly.com.
  2. Web site: Kari Barba: The Queen of Modern Tattooing – Scene360. 2022-02-19. en-US.
  3. Web site: Preston. Devon. Visit 11 of the Oldest Tattoo Shops in the World. 2022-02-19. Tattoo Ideas, Artists and Models. en.
  4. Web site: 2020-08-31. Peace in Life: Interview with Tattoo Artist Kari Barba. 2022-02-20. Tattoodo. en.
  5. Web site: 2021-05-27. Meet Kari Barba: Business owner, Tattoo artist and painter. 2022-02-20. SHOUTOUT LA. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2021-12-28 . Kari Barba — Tattoo Artist in Long Beach . 2024-05-24 . ink-match.com . en-US.
  7. Web site: Meet the Maker - Kari Barba. 2022-02-20. MADE by Millworks. en.
  8. Book: Yuen Thompson, Beverly. Covered in Ink: Tattoos, Women, and The Politics of the Body. New York University Press. 2015. 978-0-8147-6000-0. New York. 13–14, 45, 63, 127, 135–137. English.
  9. Book: Lal Hardy . The Mammoth Book of Tattoo Art . 15 March 2012 . Little, Brown Book Group . 9781780339214 . United Kingdom . 39.
  10. Web site: Eng. Lily. 1991-03-27. An Indelible Mark : Trends: Kari Barba, who owns a tattoo studio in Anaheim, has drawn a reputation as a master among American tattooists because of the care and artistry she puts into her work.. 2022-02-20. Los Angeles Times.
  11. Web site: Articles. National Tattoo Association News &. Flo's 2-BitsMarch - April 2021. 2022-02-20. National Tattoo Association NTA Cruisers Online News Magazine. en-US.
  12. Web site: TattooNOW Show with Tattoo Queen, Kari Barba . 2022-02-28 . reinventingthetattoo . en.
  13. Web site: 'I ain't having no chick tattoo me': Kari Barba's smiling revolution . 2022-02-28 . lbpost.com.
  14. Web site: Stories . Local . Meet Kari Barba of Outer Limits Tattoo in Long Beach - Voyage LA Magazine LA City Guide . 2022-02-28 . voyagela.com . en-US.
  15. Web site: Chesler . Josh . 2017-10-16 . Long Beach Legend Kari Barba Broke Tattooing's Glass Ceiling Without Even Realizing It . 2022-02-28 . LA Weekly . en-US.
  16. Web site: Outer Limits Tattoo Costa Mesa Shop Info . 2022-02-28 . outer-limits-tattoo . en.
  17. Web site: Press - Tattoo Exhibition Spotlights Southern Californian Artists at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Natural History Museum . 2022-02-28 . nhm.org . en.
  18. Web site: Le Mondial du Tatouage 2018 . 2022-02-28 . www.heartbeatink.gr . el-gr.
  19. Web site: Stories . Local . Meet Jenny Nguyen - Voyage LA Magazine LA City Guide . 2022-03-09 . voyagela.com . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2021-12-02 . CaixaForum Madrid presents the biggest exhibition ever devoted to the history of tattooing . 2022-02-28 . Fundación "la Caixa" . en.
  21. Web site: Vankin . Deborah . Tattoo you: Freddy Negrete, the black-and-gray style and an L.A. museum's new interactive exhibition . 2022-02-28 . chicagotribune.com.
  22. Web site: Mahdil . Maison . TATTOO . 2022-02-28 . None . en.
  23. Web site: Jeremiah Barba of Conclave Art Studio Talks About His Tattoo Heritage – OC Weekly . 2022-02-28 . www.ocweekly.com.