An Exciting New Museum for Makeup Lovers!
The Makeup Museum is opening at 94 Gansevoort Street downtown in New York City on May 1. The museum will be devoted to the past, present and future of makeup. The museum will dive into the 10,000 year history of makeup beginning at the very least with the iconic kohl eyeliner of Egypt through the present day and looking ahead to what makeup might be like in years to come.
Although The Makeup Museum website doesn’t have a ton of detail at this point, it is very much worth a look. Check out the video by the Executive Director of the museum, Doreen Bloch, to get a better understanding of her plans for the museum. The site itself is fun and a vision in ombre pink to red to purplish. It has a cute red lipstick as its cursor or movable icon for navigating the site.
“A space dedicated to bridging the gap between beauty stars of yesteryear and makeup lovers of today” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Shows makeup as a high art form” – VOGUE Paris
“Makeup addicts, your dream museum is coming soon…” – Travel+Leisure
“A totally immersive experience” – Glamour
“A must for beauty lovers” – Grazia
“Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America”
A special exhibit that will open along with The Makeup Museum on May 1 is “Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America”. It goes until October 31, 2020. In fact, since March 1, you are able to buy tickets and choose a specific date for visiting the museum and seeing the show.
I am truly hoping that I will be able to get to New York before the show ends. I adore makeup from the 1950s: the cat eye, the red lips and nails, the precision. So feminine, so sophisticated, so important that they’ve become classic looks. Although I am one of the few who wasn’t in love with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I did appreciate the clothing and makeup from the 1950s era. I adore old movies from the 1950s that function as archives of the makeup and fashion of the era, e.g. Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn, Bell Book and Candle with Kim Novak etc. I am so eager to get the museum’s POV on the groundbreaking makeup of this important decade.
On Facebook, I came upon an article from the Global Cosmetic Industry about the partnership between The Makeup Museum and Nordstrom for the “Pink Jungle” show. Nordstrom will merchandise the museum’s gift shop “artifacts” from the show. I can hardly wait for that! I have collected 1950s compacts since I was in college, so I am eager to see what will be on offer. The article mentions Max Factor’s 1959 Creme Puff compact, Erno Laszlo creams and treatments from Marilyn Monroe’s personal collection. Ooooh! The Makeup Museum mobile app and the website will connect shoppers to Nordstrom’s website to buy items from the Pink Jungle show. So even if you can’t make it to NYC, you can still shop the show!
What do you think about this? Will there be a visit to The Makeup Museum in your future? Does the Pink Jungle exhibit interest you?
Addendum: After I published this article about a new Makeup Museum to open in New York City on May 1, I heard from the curator of the original Makeup Museum that started back in 2008. The original Makeup Museum is online, free and open 24/7. You can’t get more convenient than that! And it has a wealth of information and entertainment about all things makeup, both historical, present day and future. It blew me away when I went to the website! There are so many photos, information about products, gorgeous makeup from past and present, and more. I know you’ll love it, too <3
At present, the original Makeup Museum doesn’t have a physical museum. However, you can visit the Museum’s collection of 2000 makeup-related artifacts by getting in touch with the curator of the Makeup Museum at mmcurator@gmail.com and making an appointment to stop by her place in Baltimore to tour her fabulous collection. I hope that I can get to Baltimore in the future to see it myself!
Hi Allison, I’m a long time reader of your blog…just wanted to let you know that there is an existing Makeup Museum that I founded in 2008. Why these people stole the exact name of my museum and are claiming the idea is original is beyond me, but it’s very frustrating given that I’ve spent over 12 years trying to get this concept to take off. If you want actual makeup history and not a glorified Nordstrom pop-up, please check out the REAL makeup museum online – it’s totally free and open 24/7. Thanks.
MM Curator recently posted…Curator’s Corner, February 2020
Hillary, wow, I am so sorry that the soon to open Makeup Museum in New York pirated your name! I noticed on your website that the name has been copyrighted since 2008. Do you have no recourse? Did they respond to you in any way?
Your site is an absolutely fantastic resource as well as entertainment for makeup lovers! I am blown away by what I have seen in the few minutes that I have had so far to explore it. I wish that I had the opportunity to go to Baltimore to see your amazing collection in person. Have you purchased all the artifacts? What an investment! You wrote in your comment that you have spent 12 years trying to promote the concept – none of the major brands were interested in supporting the venture?
Would you mind if I wrote a post about your, the original, Makeup Museum?
Hi Allison, thank you so much for the response and acknowledging the original Museum’s existence – so many people don’t. Sadly, if I had a nickel for every rejection or total lack of response from various museums, makeup companies, expos, etc. I’ve gotten over the years…well, I could definitely afford to open a space in NYC! No legal recourse – while I own the trademarked name, to actually pursue litigation for copyright infringement starts at around $20,000, according to the lawyers I’ve talked to. I have purchased everything myself save for a few donations from other collectors…it was my dream, my only outlet, and these people have stolen everything from me. I have talked to the founders and they are nothing more than opportunistic business/PR people who saw absolutely nothing wrong with stealing an existing museum’s name and claiming to be the first – their argument was that since I don’t operate a physical space my museum doesn’t count. I would welcome a post from you on the original museum; however, please be advised that if you do visit those thieves, I will be unfollowing. I don’t mean this as a threat or to be combative, it’s just that I have been far too hurt by previously supportive people who are now willing to give these imposters attention and money despite knowing that they deliberately are trying to erase my museum’s existence. So for my own sanity once I see that people are supporting them in any way, I need to distance myself. Just a head’s up. This whole thing has been extremely painful for me and is only getting worse every day.
Thank you again for your thoughtful response. Any more questions please feel free to email me.
MM Curator recently posted…Color Connection #41
Makeup Museum? Wow! I think I found another good reason for visiting NYC in near future. Too bad I’ll probably won’t be able to see that special exhibit.
That sounds like something I’d love to see for sure. We were thinking about taking a trip to NYC this summer, I wonder if it will still be open.
Kristina recently posted…Morgan Taylor Editor’s Picks Collection
I would be thrilled to visit that. I love period makeups. And there’s a lot of history in them!
Both museums would be wonderful to visit. I’m glad to know about them. No travel plans in the future but it’s certainly something to keep in mind.
MarciaF recently posted…Microderma Mitt will change the way you exfoliate
Period makeup would be so interesting to see in a museum context!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Formé Shoe Shapers Review
I want to visit it!
I would love to visit the museum!I too love the classic makeup from the 50’s & 60’s.
Cindy Ingalls recently posted…New from Village Naturals: Iceland Collection!
Me too! I am so eager to go to see the Pink Jungle show especially!
Of course they would open something like that on the East Coast after I move to the West Coast *face palm* As a cosmetologist I would LOVE to go to this. Trends come back around so much that getting into the history of the beauty industry can really inform you on current trends.
Cassie Tucker recently posted…Tarte Cue the Confetti Eyeshadow Palette
LOL, I lived in NYC for like, forever, and why didn’t they have the Makeup Museum then?? Oh well. I hope someday you have a business trip to NYC and can take a look!