Celebrity Makeup Artist Sir John Returns Home for “Find Your FIT: A Creative Conversation with Sir John & Friends” at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

Public program on October 17, 2026 celebrates Sir John’s homecoming and the exhibition, FIT: Buffalo Fashion, Identity, and Transformation

BUFFALO, NY —October 2, 2026 —The Burchfield Penney Art Center will welcome home Buffalo native and celebrity makeup artist Sir John for Find Your FIT: A Creative Conversation with Sir John & Friends, a public program on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 5:30 – 8:00 PM in the Burchfield Penney Art Center Tower Auditorium. The event is presented alongside the Center's exhibition FIT: Buffalo Fashion, Identity, and Transformation.

Sir John will premiere a recorded video conversation with pioneering fashion model and fellow Buffalonian Beverly Johnson, reflecting on their respective journeys through the fashion industry and the enduring impact of their hometown. He will then join a panel of Buffalo creatives, Nicole Davis (Founder, Franci by Nicole Davis Jewelry), Chase Cobbina aka Billie Essco (music artist, entrepreneur, and Co-founder of CAFÉ CZEN Clothing Brand), and Erin Habes (Lecturer, Buffalo State FTT Department, and Creative Strategist), for a moderated conversation on leveraging the creative economy while staying connected to self.

“Buffalo was my first art school,” says Sir John. “It’s where I began to understand generational fashion, identity, and the power of visual storytelling. So much of how I see and create was shaped there. To return now, carrying everything I’ve learned along the way, feels like a full-circle moment and a continuation of a conversation that has lived within me for years. Cheers to Buffalo Soldiers.”

The panel, moderated by curator Tiffany Gaines, will explore themes of roots and identity, transformation within the fashion and creative industries, and Buffalo's future as a creative community. The evening includes an audience Q&A with the panelists.

Tickets are $45 ($35 for Burchfield Penney Members) and available at burchfieldpenney.org.

ABOUT SIR JOHN

Sir John is a globally renowned celebrity makeup artist, creative director, and cultural tastemaker with over two decades of experience shaping the worlds of fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Known for creating iconic looks for legends like Beyoncé, Zendaya, Naomi

Campbell, and Serena Williams, his work spans red carpets, runway shows, and major international campaigns, with features in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. He currently serves as Creative Director of Medicube, the Korean skincare brand, where he blends artistry with cutting-edge innovation.

Beyond artistry, Sir John is a visionary business leader who has partnered with global brands including Disney, Estée Lauder, Barbie, Genesis, and MasterClass, helping to modernize and elevate both mass and luxury beauty. Having also served as Creative Director at L’Oréal Paris US for over a decade, he continues to push the boundaries of beauty through both creative and strategic leadership.

Driven by the belief that “beauty is a feeling,” Sir John is committed to inspiring individuality, confidence, and a more holistic approach to beauty—empowering a new generation to redefine what beauty looks and feels like.

ABOUT THE BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER

Established in 1966 on the campus of SUNY Buffalo State University, the Burchfield Penney Art Center’s mission is to cultivate and elevate the work of Charles E. Burchfield and Western New York artists. 

The Burchfield Penney Art Center’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Burchfield Penney receives generous public support from SUNY Buffalo State University, Erie County, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Buffalo. Private support is provided by The Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation, the Cullen Foundation, the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation, M&T Bank, The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the Joy Family Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Designated Inclusive Arts and Culture Organizations Endowment Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Inc., Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation, the James Carey Evans Endowment, and many additional individuals, corporations, foundations, and Burchfield Penney members. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

FIT: Buffalo Fashion, Identity, and Transformation has been made possible through the generous support from the Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation and Cynthia Baird Stark; and Shelley Drake, in loving memory of Dr. Kenneth C. Drake. We gratefully acknowledge an Anonymous Donor, the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, Cheryl Lyles and Steven Lakomy, MD, and Erik and Gina O'Neill for their leadership giving.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact

Julia Norris
Director of Communications
716-878-3457
norrisjl[at]buffalostate.edu