Hollywood makeup artist king Michael Westmore has long desired an exhibit of his work at his alma mater, UC Santa Barbara. Now Westmore — best associated with various Star Trek movies and TV series — has achieved this dream, on the very month that the beloved science-fiction franchise celebrates 50 years.
Lifeforms: The Makeup Art of Michael Westmore shows now through December 4 at UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum (AD&A). “[Several years ago] he approached us about doing an exhibit of his work,” said AD&A Assistant Curator Rebecca Harlow, cocurator of the exhibit with Jessica Archer. “The exhibition, for me, is a chance to showcase an artist who is certainly very popular. Everyone is familiar with his work, but they don’t know who he is.”
Originally from North Hollywood, Westmore, whose memoir is slated for release in March 2017, attended UCSB alongside actor Michael Douglas. “It was one of the best times of my life,” he recalled of the Isla Vista campus, where he lived in a fraternity house. At the time, UCSB totaled 2,500 enrolled. “My high school had more students,” he added, chuckling.