May Sum's cosmetic art uses tubes of lipstick as the canvas for her tiny carvings. On top of the lipsticks, Sum creates miniature busts of iconic females.
You might not think that the 'Woman Power' series could encapsulate such fine details, but Sum works in the smallest of features like Twiggy's individual eyelashes and Anna Wintour's iconic bob. Sum's choice of medium is an interesting one, since talk of beauty and image standards always seem to come into play with influential women. But there isn't any doubt that these bright red lipstick sculptures are knockouts.
Sum also takes custom requests and is able to sculpt a lipstick of your own likeness with a provided photo, as well as other objects like clothing and pets.
Iconic Female Lipstick Sculptures
May Sum's Cosmetic Art Sculptures Are Carved into Lipstick
Trend Themes
1. Micro-artistry - The use of a tiny canvas such as lipstick creates opportunities for precision-oriented micro-artistry.
2. Customization - Artists may start taking custom requests for smaller products, with medium-based customizations becoming a new trend
3. Cosmetics Artistry - The world of makeup and cosmetics can now lead to art as well, opening up new avenues for artistic creativity and expression.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetics - Cosmetic artists and companies could use micro-artistry as a unique selling point for their products and attract customers interested in bespoke products.
2. Art and Sculpture - The trend towards smaller, more intricate sculptures using unique mediums opens new possibilities for artists looking to create niche customized work.
3. Bespoke Manufacturing - The interest in customized micro-art pieces offers companies an opportunity to enter into the production of bespoke items using small and unique canvases.