A Kiss and Tell All...My day with the Lipstick Queen...Alexis Fraser

This is her most recent portrait of Lisa Rinna using Lisa Rinna’s own lipstick line, Rinna Beauty. — This is her most recent portrait of Lisa Rinna using Lisa Rinna’s own lipstick line, **Rinna Beauty.**

How amazing are these denim jackets she created! They vary in price (you can inquire on her website, LipstickLex.com and/or send her a DM on Instagram (@lipsticklexofficial). — How amazing are these denim jackets she created! They vary in price (you can inquire on her website, **LipstickLex.com** and/or send her a DM on Instagram (**@lipsticklexofficial).**

It was National Lipstick Day this past Thursday and in honor of this fabulous holiday, I wanted to interview the lipstick queen herself, Alexis Fraser. Known to everyone as Lipstick Lex, she is a boss mama who is gorgeous, down-to-earth, genuine, and truly one of a kind. Born and raised in Chicago, Lex was a creative soul who went to school originally for art education. While a move from the US to Canada threw a wrench in Lex’s ability to legally apply for a job, this blessing in disguise is what allowed Lex to create more and eventually tap into the world of unconventional art. She was experimenting with everything she could get her hands on like bottle caps, toilet paper rolls, tea, and wine. A brewery even commissioned her to paint a beer using only their dark brews. It wasn’t until a road trip to Florida with her husband that the notion of using lipsticks in her paintings came to mind. She knew that not only was lipstick unique and beautiful, but it was also something more. Over the years as an artist, the kiss print became iconic to Lex since it embodies everything she believes in: beauty, personal empowerment, self-expression, and self-love. The first portrait she created was an image of Marilyn Monroe (shown below). Now with 29,000 eyes on her on social media (her main outlet is IG-@lipsticklexofficial), she is ready to take on the world with her kisses. She has been featured on GMA with Michael Strahan and Sara Haines, made an Access Hollywood appearance (she even got Mario Lopez to pucker up), has worked on corporate projects and campaigns with brands like Sephora, MAC Cosmetics, Este Lauder, written up in Sarasota Magazine, and was most recently awarded Sarasota’s favorite artist by The Out Awards in SRQ in 2020. Talk about a female trailblazer! Check out our discussion below…

The artist in action! She seals her portraits with tons of her kisses!

Here are just a few of the lipsticks she uses in her paintings! So cool and colorful!

Marilyn Monroe was your first portrait. How did you decide on her?

Marilyn is the ultimate kiss queen. If you recall, most of her photos are seen with her blowing kisses to her millions of fans all over the world. My thought was “how amazing to use lipsticks to paint an icon who literally represents everything the lipstick does! Beauty, color, self-expression… Marilyn was all that and much more. The lipstick directly correlates with Marilyn. This is when lipstick took on a whole new meaning for me.

Which lipstick brands do you use in your paintings?

I love working with all kinds of brands including MAC Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Kat Von D Beauty, and most recently, Rinna Beauty! I started out only using red lipsticks in my paintings but now I get super creative and use all sorts of different palettes. Particularly during Halloween, I stock up on all the funky colors.

How long does one painting take you?

It depends on the art piece I am commissioned to make. Some paintings take only a few days, some take a few months. The largest piece I was ever asked to create was a mural on a community center. It was a beautiful tree all made of kisses.

Wow! That’s amazing! How long did that take you to do?

It took me a little over three months to create. A lot of blood, sweat, and kisses went into it but it was totally worth it!

Aside from paintings and portraits, what other surfaces can you find your art?

Currently, you can find my designs on shoes, but soon, jackets (denim - like the ones you see pictured that are upcycled) and, down the road, jewelry. I have some fun projects in the works that will help elevate my brand to the next level.

Just a few of the numerous lipstick shades and color she uses in her studio.

This is her most expensive piece to date. It is a tree located on The Wellen Park community center. It took her over 3 months to complete the mural. So rad!

What is your favorite portrait you’ve done?

Honestly, I love all of them equally. The way I see it is that whatever I am working on in the present moment makes me happy. I just finished my portrait of Lisa Rinna (so fab!) and that was a favorite of mine. Next, I am going to be creating a piece for Drew Barrymore which will also be exciting. It’s hard for me to pick just one! There are a few others that come to mind as well: I worked on a giant peace sign and a giant love sign. Those are definitely some of my top choices.

Which artist inspires you?

There are two women that inspire me immensely. Frida Kahlo was one of them; she was authentic, beautiful, and made such an incredible impact on the art community, especially for women. She was a pioneer in every sense of the word. I love her. Secondly, I currently admire an artist named Ashley Longshore out of New Orleans. Aside from her stellar pop art, she is funny, brash, and unapologetically herself. I love watching what she will create next!

Where do you see your brand going in the next 5 years?

I am branching out into fashion clothing, shoes, home decor, and, in the near future, fashion jewelry. You have seen what I’ve done with denim, now I want you to wear it on your feet, and find it in your home next. I love interior design! This is a brand for all ages and it’s universal on all levels.

Lipstick Lex is already a household name in Sarasota, Florida where she currently resides with her husband and two kids. She gets flooded with messages on social media of people inquiring about her work and commissioning her art to hang in their home, mine included. She just recently relocated her studio from The Rosemary District to The Clark Center in Sarasota. You can find more about her art and work on her website, LipstickLex.com, and follow along her incredible journey of spreading love in the shape of a kiss.