Speaker Bios 2012

Keynote Speakers

Photo by Darren Decker/©A.M.P.A.S.

J. Roy Helland

Roy Helland grew up in Southern California and became a hairdresser. While studying to be a dancer and working in drag in clubs, he learned how to do make-up. He had a beauty shop in La Cañada, got bored, moved to New York City and landed at the Public Theater. Helland worked as hair and make-up designer for 88 plays. And now, with 50 film credits to his name on IMDB, an Emmy Award for his work on HBO’s Angels in America, a BAFTA and an Oscar for his work on The Iron Lady and a how-to book entitled Special Features, Helland continues a career that has been guided by providence and the generosity of friends.

Photo by Karl Gian

Kabuki

Known best for his avant-garde editorial and fashion make-ups, Kabuki is one of the most exciting talents working today. Originally from the north of England, he landed his first job in New York as a textile designer before segueing from club kid to model to make-up artist. Kabuki's shoots have appeared in Italian, American and Paris Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle, Numero and Elle. His celebrity clients include Madonna, Lady Gaga, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell and the late Michael Jackson. His TV and film credits include Sex and the City, Party Monster and Strangers with Candy. Kabuki has worked with many of today’s leading photographers including Bruce Weber, Peter Lindbergh, Raymond Meier and Karl Lagerfeld.  His recently released book 73 Drawings by Kabuki is available at the show and on Blurb.com. Follow him on Twitter @kabukimagicNYC.

*Book signing immediately following at the Make-Up Artist magazine booth.

Bernadette Mazur

With more than 25 years of tested, trusted experience, Bernadette Mazur has successfully managed the make up departments of more than 70 movies. Her productions include Men in Black III, American Gangster, There’s Something About Mary and A League of Their Own. While bringing a wealth of managerial experience and business acumen to any production, she pushes her team and herself to innovate at the limits of creativity and possibility. Mazur is currently department head on the Ben Stiller movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. (Pictured at left with Matthew McConaughey)

Featured Speakers

Kandee Johnson

Kandee Johnson has more than 10 years’ experience working on movies, TV shows, national ad campaigns, fashion shows and celebrities. She’s also a YouTube sensation, with more than 100 million views. She runs her own beauty blog and was named an Elle magazine/CoverGirl Video Star. Johnson just wrapped the season finale of the Style Channel’s How Do I Look?, where she was featured as the special guest make-up artist, creating the new make-up looks for the show’s makeover recipients.

Joey Mills

Editorial and fashion make-up artist Joey Mills, one of the foremost artists working in the industry today, has created looks for nearly 2,000 magazine covers—including Vogue, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar—and contributed to beauty campaigns for designers and companies such as Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, Clinique and Chanel. In 1980, he created Brooke Shields’ iconic make-up look for the Calvin Klein jeans ads. Mills is the author of New Classic Beauty and was profiled in Issue 92 of Make-Up Artist magazine.

Adrien Morot

Adrien Morot was a monster and make-up fan from an early age. His teachers and parents suggested that he find more stable and realistic work as an adult, but at age 20, he left Montreal to pursue his dreams in Los Angeles. Since then, he has worked on more than 100 features and has traveled internationally, shooting movies in some astounding places. He was a nominee for the Achievement in Makeup Oscar at the 2011 Academy Awards, for the movie Barney's Version. Morot runs his studio from Montreal; his work appears on www.adrienmorotmakeupfx.com.

 Educators

Matthew Ambrosio

As a CoverFX artist, Matthew Ambrosio educates make-up artists of all levels and specializes in camouflage artistry. Ambrosio travels the East Coast, from Boston to Puerto Rico, spreading the excitement CoverFX creates while also working as much runway as possible.  His favorite client is anyone who wants to be ALL of the following:  flawless, natural and perfectly matched.  He also works as an executive director and beauty advisor with the Miss New York organization.

Kevin James Bennett

Multiple Emmy Award-winning make-up artist Kevin James Bennett has spent more than 20 years honing the skills that have brought him accolades from his peers as well as from viewers of his work in TV, film and print. Bennett, an admitted product junkie, is considered an industry expert and reference source. He is happiest when working with, designing, buying, talking or writing about his passion: make-up!

Cory Bishop

Temptu Pro National Artist and Educator Cory Bishop has been working in the cosmetics industry since he was 15 years old. His work has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, and in publications including Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Brazilian Vogue. He has contributed backstage for Marchesa, Peter Som and Max Azria at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Bishop has worked with celebrity clients including Renée Zellweger, Jennie Garth, Cassie Ventura and others.

Dominick Briguglio

Dominick Briguglio is Stila’s director of sales and education for North America. He is also a celebrity make-up artist and pro artist with years of experience working backstage at Fashion Week, on various sets and with clients. His beauty expertise and skill have contributed to his success in the industry.

Valentina Celada

Valentina Celada, a native of Sweden, studied figure drawing and sculpture in Rome and fine art in New York at venues including The Art Students League of New York, Cooper Union and Parsons. She also studied theatrical make-up, special make-up effects, mask-making and puppetry. She has done television, film (Black Swan), print (Vogue) and theater projects, including Broadway shows. She has worked for the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. She also collaborates with American Ballet Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Palma Driscoll

Agent Palma Driscoll represents top make-up artists for Bryan Bantry, Inc. Founded in 1973, Bryan Bantry is a leading New York-based agency representing photographers, hairdressers, make-up artists and stylists for clients in the fashion, advertising, publishing and entertainment industries.

Valerie Gladstone

Valerie Gladstone is a journeyman hairstylist and former president of  IATSE Local 798. Her film credits include For Colored Girls, Black Swan and The Great Debaters.  Her Broadway credits include Beauty and the Beast, The Seagull and Thurgood. Last year she was the third on CBS’s Blue Bloods.

Christina Grant

Christina Grant is currently the assistant make-up supervisor for the Broadway production of The Lion King. Her other Broadway credits include Tarzan, Cirque du Soleil’s Wintuk, Shrek: The Musical and La Cage Aux Folles. Her film credits include Black Swan, Across the Universe and Synecdoche, New York. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Wig and Make-up Design from North Carolina School of the Arts.

Angela Johnson

Angela L. Johnson started her career working indie films, television and opera, but her true love is running theater make-up departments and assisting designers on Broadway shows including Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and Mary Poppins. Johnson has served as make-up design associate and department head for shows including Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark and Shrek. She has also done make-up design for the Broadway revival and German productions of 42nd Street as well as the national tour of Dr. Dolittle.

David Klasfeld

After a part-time job at Nordstrom’s cosmetics department, Klasfeld worked backstage on runway shows including Patricia Field, Heatherette and Diesel. His work has been seen in Zink, New York and Interview, as well as in videos for Thursday, The Stills and Sum 41. Klasfeld’s pioneering work in high-definition TV for clients including Target, Best Buy and Comedy Central catapulted him into a career in airbrush education and product development. Today, Klasfeld’s own brand, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, is the result of years spent determining what works best on set.

Madeline Leonard

Madeline Leonard has been representing make-up artists since 1986. She is the owner/director of Cloutier Remix. “Originally we spent a lot of time face to face with artists and clients,” she says. “Portfolios were the main tool. Today our focus is much wider and more strategic ... how to reach clients in a crowded market, how best to showcase make-up artists' talents and how to facilitate lucrative and rewarding career extensions for already established artists.”

Daniela Marin

Daniela Marin, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communications at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. She has done public relations, marketing, advertising and media planning for Atelier Creative Services and Luca Luca Fashion House. Marin has also worked in public relations for Armani Exchange, as an agent at JUMP Management and in fashion-show production. For the last seven years she has been a New York-based agent for Artists by Timothy Priano.

Sheila McKenna

Kett Cosmetics president Sheila McKenna is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of make-up artistry experience. Her work has appeared in film, television, print, theater and runway.  She is an airbrush make-up expert and founded the Kett line of products and airbrush equipment in 2000. Today Kett Cosmetics is globally recognized and considered an essential brand for professional artists, make-up academies, studios and television networks.

Eve Pearl

Eve Pearl is an Emmy Award-winning celebrity make-up artist and 18-year industry veteran. She is the author of Plastic Surgery Without the Surgery: The Miracle of Makeup Techniques. She owns the Eve Pearl Cosmetics and Makeup Experience Studio and Boutique in New York City. An innovator of the Salmon Concealer, Pearl has been an on-air contributor and make-up artist to Meredith Vieira on Today and a key make-up artist and guest on The View. Pearl’s work has been featured in Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, InStyle, Vanity Fair and more.

Thelma Laretta Pollard

Thelma Laretta Pollard is the production make-up supervisor for The Phantom of the Opera Broadway company. She holds two cosmetology licenses and is a certified Clinical Make-up Artist. She has several commercial, television and film credits to her name, including Revolutionary Road and I Am Legend. She is a member of Local 798 and was part of the first all-black female hair design team to compete in the Hair Olympics in Paris, France. She has made appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News and New York 1.

Jason Reese

Jason Reese is a technician on the marketing team at Smooth-On, Inc., a leading manufacturer of liquid rubber and liquid plastic compounds. He has first-hand knowledge about the wide variety of synthetic media available today. He has extensive experience in the fields of prop-making and special effects and in many applications, including theater, film, make-up effects and themed environments. Reese has represented Smooth-On’s products internationally and has been instrumental in the development of new products for effects make-up applications.

Roshar

Roshar is a New York City-based make-up artist enjoying a bicoastal demand for his work. His fresh approach to feminine beauty focuses on flawless skin, creative details and minimal glamour. Aside from his extensive list of runway work, Roshar's clients include Paul Mitchell, CoverGirl, Make Up For Ever, Zink, Harper Collins Publishing and various international publications. He was profiled in Issue 93 of Make-Up Artist magazine.

Vincent Schicchi

Vincent Schicchi has been working in theater, television and film on the East Coast for more than 25 years. In theater, he supervised Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast and The Woman in White, as well as acting as the personal make-up artist for Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner during the limited run of Cyrano de Bergerac. Other theater credits include Young Frankenstein: The Musical and Shrek: The Musical. His film credits include The Amazing Spiderman, Men in Black III, Dogma, The Strangers and The Smurfs, and he is the make-up effects artist for Showtime’s Nurse Jackie. 

Leigh Sikorski

Leigh Sikorski is passionate about accelerating the careers of exceptionally talented creative artists. After more than 10 years working with top photographers in high fashion and advertising, she took over the director position of Kate Ryan Inc.’s Hair, Make-up, and Styling divisions. Currently leading the careers of more than 20 artists, Sikorski’s group serves a great mix of fashion and commercial clients. In addition to the talent, she enjoys the benefits of being affiliated with the Kate Ryan Inc. Photography division, which reps some of the top beauty and lifestyle photographers in the business.

Anabel Vargas

Anabel Vargas is an award-winning international make-up artist and educator. She works in print, commercials, video production and film. Her work has been featured on MTV, Good Morning America, NBC, Telemundo, TV Land, Access Hollywood and E! Online. Some of the most beautiful faces in the world have benefited from her creative style and technique. As a member of the Kryolan International Team, she has worked with the Miss USA and Miss Universe organizations. She also owns and works out of her make-up studio in New York. 

Vargas

Vargas, a world-renowned body painter, is one of the most acclaimed body artists in the industry. His credits include three movies, more than 30 calendar productions, more than 40 magazine covers and countless presentations. His calendars have opened doors in Asia, Europe and the Americas, where he also introduces his signature Royal & Langnickel brushes. His work has been displayed in the White House Rotunda and in a museum in Trenton, New Jersey. Vargas is also a photographer with one of the largest studios in West New York, New Jersey. An art professor for more than seven years, he shares his skills worldwide. 

Koren Zander, aka EnKore

Known to most beauty enthusiasts as EnKore Makeup, Koren Zander has 20 years’ experience as a professional artist, working on theatrical productions, runway shows, commercials, bridal and print. He did the Miss USA  2010 pageant and Expo 2010 Shanghai. His YouTube channel features how-to videos on application techniques, tips and tricks, product reviews and make-up organizing ideas.