MACKENZIE CURTIS (She/Her)

What brought you to Humber and your program of study?

I came to Humber later than most, not straight out of high school. I’d been a welder before that, and I stepped away from it for my mental health. Going back to school to study Visual and Digital Arts was my way of finally choosing to become an artist. I’d actually thought about tattoo artistry early on, but early carpal tunnel from welding steered me away from that path.

What was your favourite Humber memory or experience?

I went through the program during COVID, so most of it was online, and I only had a short stretch of in-person time before I graduated. It wasn’t the typical college experience. But for every project, I made a point of challenging myself to work with a new material or medium I’d never tried: needle felting, natural material art, all kinds of things. Cole and Noni were the instructors who really stood out for me and pushed that mindset. One piece, an eggshell heart sculpture called “Exposed,” ended up being selected for the International Student Art Awards through the League of Innovation, which was a huge moment for me at the time.

What was Humber's greatest impact on your personal and professional life?

Humber taught me that I do my best work when I’m challenged and given something concrete to aim for, and that I could actually learn and adapt across totally different art forms if I gave myself the assignment. Art school also became a place to heal. A lot of my pieces, “Exposed” included, were tied to my mental health, and having that space to express what I was going through changed how I related to art from something I did to something that did something for me. That mindset carried straight into my career. When I moved to BC four years ago, I started as a junior graphic designer, and I eventually fell into face painting, something that was never even discussed as a career path in my program. Being able to pick up new skills quickly, the same instinct that got “Exposed” into an international student competition, is a big part of why that leap worked out.

What are you up to now?

I pitched crystal-themed face painting to the Surrey Rock Hound Club, then did markets in the lead-up to that actual rock show, and that whole arc is what launched MJC Artistry as a real business. From there, things moved fast. This year I was the sole face painter selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026 VIP Hospitality Village at BC Place in Vancouver, working alongside airbrush artists for VIP guests, just three years after that first pitch. Face painting isn’t an industry most people take seriously; it’s seen as a hobby or a kid’s party add-on, and I’ve spent the last few years proving otherwise: building real business infrastructure, taking on corporate and community events, and now building a personal brand aimed at helping other face painters and creative entertainers see themselves as business owners, not just hobbyists. Changing how this industry is perceived, both from the outside and from within it, is the throughline of everything I’m doing right now.

What else do you want to share (e.g. Memorable trip; If you had a superpower; Favourite food or coffee shop; Personal and professional interests; Awards and recognition; Other milestones)?

I was recently a guest on Sponge Stories, a UK-based podcast for the face painting industry, talking about running MJC Artistry as a real business rather than a side hobby. My company has also been rated one of the top 3 face painting companies in Surrey, BC. Right now I’m writing a business book for creative entertainers, because there are thousands of tutorials out there on how to paint faces and create designs, but almost nothing on how to actually run this kind of business sustainably and professionally. That gap is what I’m trying to fill.