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About the Academy

The multimillion-dollar makeup industry is booming, and makeup artistry has never been a more popular career choice. The New York Academy of Makeup (NYAM) is Long Island’s first makeup academy specializing in both custom special effects/prosthetics and beauty makeup training.

At NYAM, students enjoy small classes and individual attention, a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip aspiring artists with the knowledge and hands-on training they need to succeed, and featured guest instruction by high-profile industry professionals—without the need to travel to Manhattan and beyond.

Your Educational Director

NYAM founder and director Karen Gebbia is a NYS-licensed makeup artist and private school teacher with three decades of working experience as a professional makeup artist for bridal, editorial, television, theater and film.

Karen decided to found NYAM after seeing first-hand the growing demand for makeup classes — and the exploding interest in advanced special effects makeup in particular.

Formerly a certified Makeup Designory (MUD) teacher personally trained by MUD co-founder Paul Thompson, Karen founded NYAM after spending five years as department head for the MUD/NYIB partnership school, personally teaching the entire curriculum for five years.

NYAM is a New York State licensed career school.

Get Started

Ready to start your journey? We’re ready to have you! Fill out the form below and we’ll contact you with an admissions packet and further details.


Interested Courses*

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Karen is a talented educator who helped me refine my craft. I'd recommend Karen's courses to any creative person but I think that those with a proclivity for quality and propensity for adventure will reap the most benefit.
Mike Gillespie
Makeup Artist
In her classes you feel very inspired to explore your creativity. Because of my classes with her, I feel comfortable and confident in my work. She loves what she does and I think that's what makes her classes so enjoyable and educational.
Danielle Dimitri
Makeup Artist/Esthetician
I found her teaching to be excellent and enjoyable. Her expertise in SFX makeup made learning challenging yet fun! I feel fortunate to have a teacher such as Karen to guide me on my path to become a successful makeup artist.
Grace Hickey
Makeup Artist