Get to know: Bo Quinn

In our debut print issue 01 of Sanxtuary Magazine we interviewed the legendary Bo.quinn (@bo.quinn) and delved into their origin story and how they evolved into the renowned MUA we know and love today! We've now brought that exclusive print interview online! Read the full interview below!

Tell us about yourself and how were you first introduced to the world of art and make-up?

I’m Bo Quinn a drag/makeup artist living in East London. I’ve always been into art from an early age and studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths starting in 2017, this was where I was first introduced to the underground London drag and clubkid scene. From there, for fun I would often dress up and go out & experiment with different look. This is how I discovered my love for makeup and the fascination with transforming myself and others.

Have any make-up or drag artists inspired your work?

Of course other makeup and drag artists have and will continue to inspire my work, however I like to take inspiration from all sorts of things. this way I find my work to be more true to me and original rather than an interpretation of someone else's ideas. 

How did your aesthetic develop into your iconic clown-inspired look?

The clown paint was born in my university halls bedroom, where I had 3 face paint pots from a previous halloween & minimal makeup skills. It allowed me to become something else. It didn’t look great at first… but of course it evolved from there.

Tell us about your make up wipe art, and how that idea originated?

I’d seen makeup wipe prints around before I started doing them. I decided to try it out one day, it was sort of an accident. I posted one on instagram and the reaction was super positive. So every look from there, I make sure I do one. Even if its just for me, to savour the look somehow, it can be painful just wiping it away down the sink!! My swipe for the wipe series I did on instagram where I posted 100 wipes in a row with corresponding looks was one of the best things I ever did. It challenged me and I learnt so many skills & people really enjoyed it.

Has living in london influenced your artistic journey?

Like I said, I found drag and my artistic self in london. I always wanted to move here, its such a diverse city. There is always something to do, and I feel it allowed me to find my people. I have a really close community of queer creatives that I would never have found living in the sea side town I grew up in.

What is your favourite look that you’ve done so far?

My favourite look so far… That is a hard one, I can’t even look at some of them, my work is constantly evolving, each look I want to be better than the last, just even for myself. I think one of my most recent ones, I think the one where I have BO written across my eyes. I loved doing that one & the looks I use writing in are always challenging as I have to do it backwards so it will photograph the right way round

Do you have any aspirations for where your drag and makeup art form will take you next?

I am excited for the future. Opportunities come and go and as long as I’m still able to do what I love and pay my rent I’m happy! However I do want to continue working with brands and magazines I love as well as freelance makeup work also.

For the latest exclusive interviews grab issue 03 here!