On Kat: FALGUNI & SHANE Peacock Dress; THE GREAT FROG Rings; M. COHEN Bracelet; BLOODMILK Necklace.


A tireless romantic who had almost given up hope on finding a real connection, Von D seemed smitten as she stole kisses with her equally amorous boyfriend during INKED’s photo shoot. It’s Von D’s fifth cover in the magazine’s five years (the most of any subject), and she’s never seemed so radiant. “I think I had been living in a state of longing and didn’t even realize it,” she says. “One thing is to dream and wish for a love—a true and noble one—but it is a very different thing to actually live it, without feeling like you’re trying to make some- thing happen that really isn’t there. I’ve always believed in this kind of real love, but now I don’t see it as an imaginary idea.”

Other than the metaphysical, the arrangement has been blissful for Von D, who hasn’t had a live-in love for some time. And the womp, womp, womp of her house- mate’s work hasn’t deterred her creativity. “I find it much more fulfilling now to channel my creativity and inspiration from a higher frequency, such as love. There are times when I get home to a house filled with music and all I can do is turn my attention to what I want to do, whether it’s my own music or art or whatever.”

In addition to their shared interest in art and tattoos, both Kat Von D and Deadmau5 are well-documented “crazy cat people.” Although Von D says a love of cats is not a requirement she looks for in others, she admits it does help. Unfortunately, her cat Piaf “seems to have become more fond of Joel than myself, and I’m jealous.” One night while the two were relaxing in their living room, Piaf crawled onto Deadmau5’s chest and smiled at him. “Joel’s profile and the way his face looked at Piaf was so gentle and sweet,” she recounts. “It’s going to sound cheesy as hell, but all I could think about was drawing him, large scale, graphite on paper. Sparks of inspiration like this happen 100 times a day. So, yes, the man inspires me.”

For those who haven’t been following Von D since her LA Ink days, she has been cranking out artistic endeavors. She continues to update her clothing and makeup lines. She’s recording an album with the help of Linda Perry, of 4 Non Blondes, and Danny Lohner, who has worked with Nine Inch Nails, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle. She’s hoping for a possible summer release. Von D’s Wonderland Gallery has also become one of the most important West Coast outlets for outsider art, and recently hosted a sick show called “Skulls” that included skulls by Audrey Kawasaki, Mister Cartoon, and Ryan Adams. Of course, she also continues to tattoo regularly, and some of her newer pieces will be featured in her next book, Go Big or Go Home, which is due out this year.

While Von D still carries tattoos commemorating former flames (some of which she is considering getting lasered off), she is unabashed about the matching 289m3d22h tattoos she and Deadmau5 got. When asked about the meaning of the sequence, she deferred to Deadmau5’s desire to keep one facet of their relationship private. “I would totally spill the beans, but Joel’s keeping his lips sealed on that one!” she says. “I will tell you this: It’s not his PIN code, and it’s not related to any specific time or date. It’s a representation of how we met, and how much this connection between us is meant to be.”