Meet Kendell Cotta | Makeup Artist & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kendell Cotta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kendell, what’s your definition for success?
This is one of my favorite topics to talk about. Everyone’s definition of success is going to look entirely different. The way I define success is measured by reaching my short-term and long-term goals. I always remind myself to celebrate and be thankful for any milestones or new opportunities that come my way big or small. Success to me is also being able to just do what you love, cultivate happiness and live the life the way you want to by your means.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m Makeup Artist represented by The Rex Agency located in Los Angeles. I grew up in Tracy, California a small town outside of the Bay Are and started my career in San Francisco that lead me to living in New York where I started the freelance portion of my career to currently residing in Los Angeles. I’ve always been an artist and honestly never saw makeup as a career for my future. I apprenticed to be a tattoo artist in and out of high school and took college art classes while attending community college for business. While I was in college I applied for a job at a local sephora with always having a personal interest in makeup. I was terrible at the cash register so they threw me into doing makeup and then it just took off from there. I had a quick transition into becoming an educator at sephora where I traveled and helped other artists grow in different cities. To then freelancing for brands while building my book and gaining clients and relationships to then being signed with an agency in a sum of the last 10 years. It definitely has not been easy but I’ve loved and have enjoyed every moment of it, even the low moments I appreciate.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live around Silverlake area which is amazing for restaurants and bars. So I would want to take them around the Eastside of Los Angeles, maybe to an art museum, and if the weather was nice either the beach or the desert.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Growing up I’d say the biggest beauty influence was the internet. During my middle school / high school years it was peak of the internet with MySpace, Tumblr, and especially YouTube. I realized my passion for makeup later on amongst being an illustrator and painter. By that time the Segway into my makeup career the first influence was of course Kevyn Aucoin and his ‘ Making faces ‘ book other Artists like Pat McGrath, Alex Box, etc..

Website: https://therexagency.com/Kendell-Cotta-Advertising-1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendellcotta/

Image Credits
n/a