Aaron de Mey: Nothing or Everything

When the Magician recognizes his tools, the magic is immediate. For Aaron de Mey, it was a stroke of liquid liner that lit the fuse on his illustrious career in makeup. It’s clear though, that his medium is less of an identified career choice and more of the tickings of fate in a life experienced and truly loved. From covers to campaigns, runway and beyond, Aaron’s work is ubiquitous and unpretentious. The individuals who carry his work represent the artist himself - in his own words, the work looks “cool,” but not by a measure of status or ego, but of ease, of an inner knowing, lives lived, and identifying the beauty that exists right in front of us.

PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD BURBRIDGE @richardburbridge and courtesy of AARON DE MEY @aarondemey1
INTERVIEW KATIE MANN @trippychickmakeup 
MODELS ANGELINA KENDALL @angelinakendall_ BIBI BRESLIN @bibi_breslin JULIA NOBIS @isitnobis KAI SCHREIBER @kaischreiberrr KATI NESCHER @katinescher  

Please introduce yourself, where are you from and where are you currently?
Hey there… I am Aaron de Mey. I was born on the North Island of New Zealand and moved directly to Manhattan, New York… my forever home.

How long have you been a makeup artist?
Ever since the day I walked out of Art School.

What initially sparked your interest in makeup as a medium?
I had always been deeply obsessed with aesthetics, whether it be nature, art, architecture, fashion, style, beauty… its precision… its flaws… My eye always travels to something irreverent and audacious. I spent my time at Art School searching for my medium, and I finally realized it was right in front of me… my friends, who were models, photographers, and designers. Makeup, to me, is purely another medium within art… I adore the three-dimensionality of the human canvas.

Was there a moment that felt like it solidified your path as a makeup artist?
The first time I applied liquid liner to my friend… the dots connected, the realization that I could self-create this medium into a career… a journey. I am completely self-taught… it has given me zero boundaries.

“I would love to see more celebration, less critique… I just want to see beauty… the commercialization of it all bores me.”

What has driven your passion for your work — has it changed, or stayed the same?
My passion for my work comes from working with the best people in the industry that I admire and adore. It has always been the same… They drive me to do better, to surprise and impress.

What do you feel you’re known for in your work, and what would you like to be recognized for?
I hope for my work to be known as daring, but I never want to stand out… I like my work to complete the puzzle and enhance it, whether it be editorially, for a campaign, or a fashion show… it needs to work with the light, the photographer, or the designer’s vision and style. I have zero ego behind my work… I just want it to look cool and as original as possible… I like nothing at all or everything!… I will not tolerate mediocrity with my work… the word glam terrifies me.

Who (or what) are your muses?
They change daily… I would never give anybody or anything a crown just to take it away from them the following day or week. But definitely music, definitely art, definitely people, definitely nature. I deeply love researching and learning, and I keep my eyes wide open. I stay unbiased and have an open heart… I fall in love on the daily.

What is currently inspiring you?
The quest to be original, to go against the grain, and to inspire other people… that’s my driving force.

“I like nothing at all or everything!… I will not tolerate mediocrity with my work… the word glam terrifies me.”

Thinking about input vs. output — how do you feed your imagination?
For my imagination, I keep my mind and heart as open as possible… I do not judge, I look for a spark… a word, a person, a lyric, a brush stroke, a book, a fast car, whatever… I know it when I see it, and that opens a pathway to develop.

Your career involves a lot of travel and changes in scenery. Do you keep a piece of home with you at all times? How do you stay grounded?
As far as travel, I am a creature of habit… I always try to take the same flights, the same hotel in whichever city… particularly in Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Milan, where I travel most… that makes it feel like home for me, it makes me feel safe and acclimated.

Is there something you’d like to see more of in the beauty industry? Or less of?
I would love to see more celebration, less critique… I just want to see beauty… the commercialization of it all bores me.

Aside from your artistic work, are there causes you feel passionate about?
Animals… I LOVE them… cats especially… but any animal, really. They make me feel protectiveness and empathy.

How do you see the future of beauty?
Absolutely limitless.

@AARONDEMEY1