Stunning London art exhibition launched by Laois celebrity make-up artist

Stunning artworks created by a Laois man and internationally acclaimed makeup artist are going on exhibit in a prestigious London art gallery.

James Mac Inerney from Abbeyleix is launching his first London gallery exhibition, titled Makeup X ART this January. 

It features 17 beautiful makeup images of James' own face, which he says speak to the makeup industry, and his own background as "a queer, Irish person living with Tourette’s syndrome".

Sponsored by MAC Cosmetics, it will run from January 25 to February 1 at the Morley Gallery in South central London.

A photo from James Mac Inerney's exhibition.

“I am thrilled to announce my first ever gallery exhibition Makeup X ART and masterclass.

“Makeup X ART is a special showcase, demonstrating the magic and unconventional ways we can connect with makeup.

“The seventeen looks in this collection tell a multitude of stories, unveiling another ‘meta’ story about the industry itself.  When we talk about make up, so often it’s about what the latest fashion trends, red carpet, film and beauty industry regimes are about. 

“In viewing these art works, you’re also gaining an insight into my own story: as a queer, Irish person living with Tourette’s syndrome. Make up has been a unique outlet for dealing with my own, circumstances: through escapism, through healing, through creativity.

“The exhibition as a whole pays homage to my family, to my extended queer family,  the LGBTQIA+ community and close friends whose belief and support have been my pillars; a foundation on which I continue to build.

“This is a really exciting new chapter and I can’t wait to showcase what I’ve been working on and bringing together for the exhibition," he said.

James reached the final of UK television show Glow Up in 2020, and has achieved extraordinary success since then, focusing on celebrity clientele, fashion, editorial and transformations

As a senior professional artist he has worked for L’Oreal Paris at Paris Fashion week , MAC Cosmetics in Los Angeles & London Fashion Weeks.

He is the latest Senior Head of Creative - Editorial Artistry at the Aliya Baig Academy of Makeup in Hyderabad, India, recently awarded for most outstanding Senior Faculty member at the academy, which is part of the International Makeup Association.

A photo from James Mac Inerney's exhibition.

James works for brands including YSL Beauty UK, and has recently demo’d at the Irish Professional Beauty show, Dublin, and the International Makeup stage for the New York Makeup Show, sponsored by Danessa Myricks Beauty. 

As a celebrity makeup artist, his clientele includes Eva Langoria, Netflix’s breakthrough star Yasmin Finney from “Heartstopper”, Aisling Bea, Kat Graham, and cast members of RuPaul’s Drag Race US & UK. 

A graduate from Dublin City University, with a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia studies - James’ major was in photography and visual communications, which leads itself into the current work he does. 

James competed and won the creative student category in the 2018 Irish Beauty awards and was first runner up in the student category of the 2018 Irish Body Painting Championships. 

He is now based in London working towards a freelance career outside of social media whilst maintaining his online presence. 

The exhibition runs from January 25 to February 1 with a limited-ticketed masterclass on January 24 to celebrate the launch.

Tickets available online at EVENTBRITE ( https://www.eventbrite.co. uk/e/james-mac-masterclass- sponsored-by-mac-tickets- 774286922027?aff=ebd ) 

See more of James Mac inerney's work on https://youtube.com/c/  on Instagram www.Instagram.com/jmac_mua, 

on Tik Tok www.TikTok.com/jmac_mua and on his official website www.jmacmua.com/ merch 

See Journey with Tourette’s on Glow Up (Facebook) https://fb.watch/ cRXRBvjy2q/