Life & Work with Alexandria Bishop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Bishop. 

Alexandria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was raised by two mothers via IVF till I was around 7, and that relationship ended. I was bullied relentlessly for having two moms and no dad, which caused me to withdraw into myself a bit and spend most of my time making art and daydreaming. Throughout school, I didn’t get the best grades, and the only things to keep me interested were my art classes. This pushed me into the artist I am today and also started my passion for lgbtq+ advocacy. 

I started doing makeup around 2014 when my sister asked me to make her into a mummy one Halloween. I had never touched special effects makeup before that and it sparked a passion in me. I started practicing makeup and sculpting every day. As my work progressed, I began getting hired for short films, music videos, Halloween parties, etc. In 2018 I was a finalist for the NYX Face Awards out of all the US and Canada. I had the honor of being flown to LA for the live final face-off with makeup. Ve Neill, the woman who made me fall in love with makeup and know I can succeed as a woman in this male-dominated field, was my judge. I wasn’t going to even submit and apply to the Face Awards due to myself doubt and not feeling good enough, then flash forward a few months to my idol talking to me about my work in LA. This was a huge moment for me in my life. I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my mother and sister. They truly are my rock through life. 

I was doing all of this while also working full time and managing an adult foster care home for the mentally ill and elderly, where I was in charge of the care for everything from schizophrenia, dementia, and also hospice (end-of-life care.) In 2020 the home shut down due to Covid, and I lost my job of 10 years. It was a very hard time in my life, but this pushed me into makeup and artwork full time. Since then, I’ve worked on feature films, like my most recent “A Holiday I Do,” and I sell artwork at shows like the Oddities & Curiosities expo and the upcoming Frankenfest. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a painter, illustrator, sculptor, and makeup artist. I do everything from bridal makeup to special effects makeup and everything in between. I specialize in and am mainly known for sculpted planters I call Potheads and special effects makeup. I think I am most proud of how many different ways I create art. I’ve done wood burning, acrylic and oil painting, sculpting, pottery, embroidery, rug making, oddities displays, furniture painting, wall murals, etc. 

What does success mean to you?
When I was younger, success looked like being rich, famous, and having a lot of money. I’ve struggled with not thinking I’m where I need to be at my age, which I know pretty much everyone can relate to that. But recently, I’ve defined success as internal peace where I’m at and having a support system around me that has had my back through everything. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexandriabishop.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: aalexandriabishop
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCeXVewGtP287AiLnDmTfQmA