The World’s First Makeup Museum Opens in NYC This May

The past decade marked the advent of a range of beauty trends, from sustainable and gender neutral makeup, to the popular K-beauty wave, to the invention of novel (occasionally bizarre) beauty gadgets. As the beauty industry continues to experience exponential changes alongside societal progression, it’s only about time that an entire museum devoted to makeup materialized.

Image credit: Makeup Museum

The Makeup Museum, the first museum in the world dedicated to the history of makeup, will debut its first exhibition in Manhattan, New York City in May 2020. The museum envisions the exploration of the rich history of beauty and its cultural significance across time, as well as the celebration of makeup as an art and a source of empowerment and inspiration.

According Doreen Bloch, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Makeup Museum, “Makeup has a 10,000 year history spanning from the ancient Egyptians with the Kohl eyeliner that they used to Kabuki and Geisha makeup in Japan, all the way to drag makeup and the influence that it has today on pop culture.”

The debut exhibition, Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America, will kick start a series of time period-themed exhibitions. The beauty industry in the 1950s, dubbed “The Pink Jungle” as a result of the competitive and burgeoning modern beauty industry, marked a significant period in the history of makeup, and is described to be “a decade packed with icons” by Co-Founder and Content Director of the Makeup Museum, Caitlin Collins.

Visitors can expect an immersive and engaging experience, with exhibitions displayed in a range of mediums, from historical artifacts to digitally activated displays and interactive installments. Artefacts and stories of timeless celebrities such as film icon Marilyn Monroe and cosmetic entrepreneur Elizabeth Arden will be featured in the exhibition.

Image credit: 1950sUnlimited

The semi-permanent exhibition will last for six months from its launch in May 2020. Ticket prices will range from USD25 to USD40, with the option for add-on experiences such as masterclasses, and will begin sales in March 2020.

Visit the Makeup Museum’s official website for more information.