Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Love.
Hi Shelby , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised on Detroit’s west side, I grew up in a creative family where art, music, and faith played a major role in shaping who I am. Inspired by my parents’ backgrounds in modeling, music, and performance, I developed a passion for creativity at an early age. My personal journey led me to discover both my faith and my purpose, realizing that creativity was more than a talent—it was a calling.
While studying performing arts at Michigan State University, I discovered a love for makeup artistry and found a way to combine visual art, storytelling, and performance. This passion led me to launch my makeup brand, Jan Cosmo, and build a career working as both a makeup artist and actress on creative projects and film productions.
Today, I continue to support the arts through multiple ventures, including Detroit Does It Better, an annual art exhibit that celebrates Detroit’s creative community and fosters meaningful connections among local artists. My work is rooted in inspiring others, creating opportunities, and using creativity as a tool for impact.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s definitely been a lot of trials and tribulations that’s pushed me into the mindset of “risking it all for the better”. I have lost a lot of people (5) from 2020 until about 2024. Most notably my father to cancer in 2022, which prompted me to create Detroit Does It Better (DDIB). He was also an artist who was really good at sketching and hand drawing. He was a big believer in Detroit culture and raised me with the same passions. I, in the midst of pursuing my initial craft of acting, was sent home from school for financial aid (2014-2017) and made the pivot from acting into makeup and then back into adding acting in 2023; during my new/current pursuit in multimedia/concept art.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Most of my friends, half joking, say I do a lot of things. I like to call myself the mastress of trades (a play on the word master) because I’ve always been multitalented. I’ve been singing & drawing since I was 2 years old, winning art and writing contest in middle school. I learned to play the cello & the violin, self taught a bit of drumming. I’ve been acting since I was 9, currently working as a paid actress in theater & film. I have had the privilege of working as a freelance makeup artist for the past 8 years with the last 3 being a certified artist for MAC cosmetics, and am currently pursuing my licensing in Esthetics. I sing on my church’s praise team, do work on the media team and I have had the recent opportunity to teach choir to elementary school students in an after school program. But I’m probably most known for DDIB (Detroit Does It Better), makeup, and social media. I worked as a social media coordinator for the past 2 years and have been pushing & perfecting my personal brand consistently on all platforms since.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Out of all the things I do I think I could best speak on the creative community and industry as a whole since most of my talents revolve around it. As well as my art collective having its 5th annual exhibition September 26th, in collaboration with The Museum Detroit & Detroit Design District. I think that the “Art World” as me & my team like to call it, is and always was the catalyst for expression & change in political and social climates such as this one. I think people are hungry for connection & belonging and art, in all its different avenues. I think it puts us in a new thinking space of “Do we play it safe? or do we live life?” which I believe is how most feel about “practical” career choices. I feel that we as a generation are looking at our parents & those before us and are questioning “the way it’s always been done” or the “american dream”. That we want a life that’s fulfilled more than anything, and that can go against a lot of peoples idea of stability or “responsible” living. Ironically that can keep a person from pushing into creative gifts that they can actually build real careers on now.
Pricing:
- tickets $25 for GA to the exhibition
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/shelbylov3/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroitdoesitbettr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelby.love.144/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-dawson-73a2a7312/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShelbyLov3
