LOCAL Houston | The City Guide JUNE 2016 | Page 26

ART

BUT FIRST, LIPSTICK
Houston-based artist KATHERINE MASON creates beautiful renderings of a woman’s body to raise
money for Breast Cancer, using donated lipstick tubes to entirely create each work. The series
allows women from all over the United States to be involved in her work. Mason shares, “I have
always wanted to start a series that infused both my love for art as well as philanthropy. During
the time I was brainstorming what I wanted my series to be, I had numerous friends that were diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to experiment with lipstick because a friend of mine would
always apply lipstick before going into her chemotherapy treatments. She told me that it was one
thing that made her feel beautiful and strong again.”
Mason’s work is beautiful in its composition, provoking an emotional reaction. The details and
attention to them are provocative depictions of the human form, like studies of the female anatomy
created in an studio class. “The lipsticks that I use have been donated by men and women around
the U.S., mostly in honor or in memory of someone who has battled or is currently battling breast
cancer. I use between 12–15 different shades per piece.” The pieces are so touching in their ability
to capture the spirit of these women.
Mason hopes to show 8–10 pieces in October 2017 for Breast Cancer Awareness month
and is looking for a venue to donate their space for the show. Proceeds from all sales will be do