Top Special Effects Makeup Artists in New York, NY

Have you ever marveled at the special effects you see on screen, especially the transformation of people into ghosts and zombies? This is where makeup artists with a talent for creating something offbeat come in. They use their creativity, imagination, research notes, and the writer’s vision to transform normal actors into something scary and everyday scenes into a gory, traumatic one.

Makeup and prosthetic talent are what make you shiver in fear or smile in wonder. When you need glamming up for a photo shoot or event, you seek out the best makeup artists in town. The same applies to makeup experts in the entertainment industry. Different levels of expert reside all over New York, depending on whether it’s for a music video, stage play, television show, or a movie.

Interested in working with one of our favorite special effects makeup artists from The Big Apple? Ready to start your search for special effects makeup artists in New York? Check out this list of some of the city's top talent to find the best match for your next production.

Jaime Gruber

Jaime considers herself a makeup artist with a talent for special effects makeup. A New York native, she's worked in both the commercial and entertainment industries in Los Angeles and New York since 2005.

As someone who has taught beauty makeup, Jaime brings a unique perspective and mindset which works well in the SFX department. She believes that understanding an actor’s existing features and the character’s story arc is important to create elastic special effects and horror makeup. In addition to her corporate and movie experiences, Jaime has provided her expertise to live theater, indie cinema, and music videos.

Beatrice Sniper

Beatrice Sniper is a makeup artist with nearly a decade in the SFX industry. She specializes in varied SFX methods including body painting, gore, and prosthetics.

Beatrice provides her clients with the best look for a particular scene or episode, and she's also one of the few makeup artists who designs props, does costume fabrication, and sculpts their own monster or creature models. Beatrice has worked on major SFX projects like The Walking Dead and on art concepts in the television, games, music video, and movie industry.

Rachel Hevesi

Makeup artist, Rachel has been part of the special effects team working on fantasy and horror shows developed by television networks.

She has ample experience as a key makeup artist and hairstylist for films, TV programs, web series, and music videos. Rachel's portfolio includes makeup for models in corporate videos, short films, and editorial and commercial photoshoots. Some of her industry credits include Property Brothers on HGTV, the BAR web series, and Blindspot on NBC.

Samantha Mileski

Samantha is associated with the SFX Program by Tom Savinis. Mentored by Mike Mekash, well known in the industry for his horror story works, she's gained valuable experience working with other creatives in the film and television industry. Her repertoire of work includes indie shorts, episodes, feature films, and commercial shoots.

What sets Samantha apart from the others is her practical experience developing realistic prosthetics for medical demos by doctors. She is known in the industry for her custom monsters, sculptures, blood gags, teeth and eye fabrication, and more.

Ari Rosenbaum

Ari is a multi-talented makeup artist. His work background as a graphic designer and stage director enables him to see the whole picture as well as the details that others fail to notice. This rounded knowledge helps immensely in his SFX character work on faces.

As a part of the movie and TV industry since 2014 as a makeup artist, Ari tries to create a unique story with his brushes and color palette. When not working on special effects makeup, props or animatronics, this creative collaborator offers beauty services to fine artists, performers, and experimental filmmakers.

Camille Harris

Camille is another SFX makeup artist who is skilled in gore, trauma, and blood effect techniques. Passionate about their art, they are equally flexible when it comes to facing challenges in their work projects. Camille excels at face or body sculpts, small props and body parts, prosthetic application, and accident/death makeup.

When they aren't creating SFX looks for industry clients, Camille provides models, performers, and other clients with regular beauty services. Some of their projects involve key SFX studio makeup for The Lady of the Lake, The Mechanic’s Rose, Otherside, and Chimera.

Erica Pearce

Compared to other SFX experts on this list, Erica may seem not to have mastery over complicated or specialized SFX.  But her body of work as seen from her portfolio belies this.

A certified and trained hairstylist and makeup artist, Erica's focus has always been on working in movies and television. Special effects is an art form she enjoys as it pushes her to think out of the box. Erica is accomplished in blood effects, injury and wound makeup, as well as silicone and gelatin application.

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