Meet Ashley Levy | Beauty and FX Makeup Artist, Film and Television

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

Hi Ashley, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art has always been the driving force behind the passion and purpose of my choices in life. As Art is completely subjective and relative to the viewer, there was some sort of freedom attached to the idea that in the Art World there would never be one singular lane that I would have to stay in, and that spoke to me. As creativity and creation go hand in hand, I knew that any career in the Arts would truly be fulfilling, no matter the capacity,

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started out as a Fine Artist, with my mediums being Watercolor and Sculpture. I wandered into the Makeup Industry when I realized that it was yet another medium for storytelling, just a different canvas.

Being equally obsessed with both Beauty Makeup as well as FX presented a personal dilemma in the beginning, as I always thought you had to pick a lane and stick with it- especially starting out in the Film/TV industry. As I worked my way through, I realized that it was not true. On the contrary, the root of all content demanded aesthetic storytelling through makeup, no matter what genre it was. Some Period Films could require Beauty *and* FX on its main characters, and whether it was produced by you, or working in conjunction with an FX house, it was your job to make sure the story was properly conveyed.

This opened my eyes on a broader level, especially when embracing creative social media outlets, such as Instagram. Instead of trying to convey all my aesthetics and inspirations in one page, inadvertently censoring a large chunk of who I am by trying to appeal to a broader market, I created a second page where I could really purge my dark inspirations. The second page was *just* for me, and by taking the pressure off, it really allowed me to lose myself in the creativity it inspired.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This past year has really turned “Going Out” into a priority based event. Here are a couple of my “priorities”:

Drinks: The Southern Gentleman and Bar Margot have a *great* variety of drinks, to fit your mood. Azteca has a pretty great Spicy Margarita, but make sure you’re within walking distance because you’ll start slurring your words before you even realize what’s happened.

Mind Clearing: The Art Museum is always a great place to let the mind wander and recharge your batteries. I live close to Ardmore Park, so a leisurely stroll along the Beltline down there is always a great way to give the couch a break and let your mind wander.

Inspiration: SCAD can have some pretty cool and inspiring exhibits that really refuel your creative batteries- keep an eye out and do yourself a favor by going there. Also, since you can now rent out movie theatres, it truly is worth it to grab a group of friends and rent out one for a viewing of a movie you are wanting to see. There just is something magical and nostalgic about seeing it on the big screen. And this way ensures you’re safe!

Doordash: Our favorite places to Doordash when we want to chill and watch movies are Niramish Indian, Antico’s Pizza, Gu’s Dumplings, and Upbeet.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Early on in life, I found my ”tribe” in the Horror Community. I found that the shared passion of all Dark Eccentricities and Cinema, as well as the accompanying camaraderie really created a safe bubble of expression. It didn’t have to be an all encompassing lifestyle, but rather a delightful escape and inspiration. Then, when I went to University (USC), I discovered that not only can you use aesthetics to tell a story, but there was actually a career in it! I’m grateful to not only all my mentors, but to also my “community” that still inspire and encourage the passion behind each project. Never forget- the kindness and guidance you give to anyone new or up and coming in your industry will ALWAYS be remembered and paid forward in some way.

(Side Note: the Tales From The Crypt comic books, as well as the art of Bill Seinkiewicz DEFINITELY aided and abetted in my obsession with storytelling through aesthetics.)

Website: www.levymakeup.com

Instagram: @smashleylevy, @beguilinglymacabre

Facebook: www.facebook.com/smashleylevy

Other: Tiktok (mainly furniture restoration and makeup depotting videos): @smashleylevy