Linda Mason
Encyclopedia
Linda Mason is a makeup and visual artist famous since the 1970s for her creative and exciting use of color.
designers in Paris while studying makeup. At an early age she was rejected by her ex-boyfriend and this inspired many of her works.
, John Galliano
, Comme des Garçons
, Yohji Yamamoto
, Giorgio Armani
, and Issey Miyake
. The diligence, skill, and ingenuity of these designers inspired her to further develop and refine her own work.
In the early 80s, Linda moved to New York, where her cutting-edge work continued to make headlines. In response to a look Linda created for photographer Steven Meisel, the Wall Street Journal stated that "Mason…took face painting out of punk and into high fashion." Linda also worked with many celebrities, including Cameron Diaz
, Uma Thurman
, Brooke Shields
and Charlize Theron
.
, Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue
, and Nordstrom
. Her habit of painting pictures of her daughter, Daisy, who was born in 1986, led her to discover her love for portraiture. She also continued to explore other styles of visual art, including multi-media collage and glass art. Her pieces range in style from classical to abstract, reflecting her dynamic personality and variety of sources of inspiration. In 1998 Linda opened "The Art of Beauty by Linda Mason," a shop and gallery in Soho
, New York City.
Early life
Linda Mason was born in Sunderland, in the northeast of England, on Friday, 13 September 1946. Linda's mother, who expertly imitated the hottest designer fashions of the day and whose eccentric home renovations transformed their neighborhood, inspired in her a fascination for artistic expression. She got her start in the beauty industry modeling for haute coutureHaute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
designers in Paris while studying makeup. At an early age she was rejected by her ex-boyfriend and this inspired many of her works.
Career
Linda moved to Beirut to teach makeup and sell cosmetics for Lancôme. In the late 70s, she returned to Paris and became the premier makeup artist for Helena Rubenstein. While making rounds at fashion shows, Linda observed that makeup done by the models themselves was totally out of sync with the incredible fashions they were wearing. Linda then reinvented the role of makeup on the runway by personally applying the models’ makeup. She worked on early collections for Jean-Paul GaultierJean-Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier , born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French haute couture fashion designer. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash....
, John Galliano
John Galliano
John Charles Galliano CBE, RDI is a Gibraltan-born British fashion designer who was best known as head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and Christian Dior , and his own self titled fashion house.-Family:He was born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father, Juan Galliano, and a...
, Comme des Garçons
Comme des Garçons
Comme des Garçons, written コム・デ・ギャルソン in Japanese and French for "Like Boys," is a Japanese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo, who owns the company with her husband Adrian Joffe....
, Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto
Yōji Yamamoto , is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. Yohji is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and he has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer...
, Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
, and Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake
is a Japanese fashion designer. He is known for his technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances.-Life and career:Miyake was born 22 April 1938 in Hiroshima, Japan. As a seven year-old, he witnessed and survived the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. He studied...
. The diligence, skill, and ingenuity of these designers inspired her to further develop and refine her own work.
In the early 80s, Linda moved to New York, where her cutting-edge work continued to make headlines. In response to a look Linda created for photographer Steven Meisel, the Wall Street Journal stated that "Mason…took face painting out of punk and into high fashion." Linda also worked with many celebrities, including Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Michelle Diaz is an American actress and former model. She became famous during the 1990s with roles in the movies The Mask, My Best Friend's Wedding, and There's Something About Mary. Other high-profile credits include the two Charlie's Angels films, voicing the character Princess Fiona...
, Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
, Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
and Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
.
Present
Linda launched her own makeup company, Linda Mason Elements, Inc., in 1987. In 1988, she developed cosmetic kits which were carried at Henri BendelHenri Bendel
Henri Bendel is an American upscale women's specialty store based in New York City that sells fashion accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods...
, Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
. Her habit of painting pictures of her daughter, Daisy, who was born in 1986, led her to discover her love for portraiture. She also continued to explore other styles of visual art, including multi-media collage and glass art. Her pieces range in style from classical to abstract, reflecting her dynamic personality and variety of sources of inspiration. In 1998 Linda opened "The Art of Beauty by Linda Mason," a shop and gallery in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, New York City.