Shu Uemura, the celebrated Japanese makeup artist and founder of the Shu Uemura cosmetics brand, died of pneumonia Dec. 29. He was 79.
A private funeral was held in
Uemura was a pioneering figure in modern makeup artistry, favoring an artistic approach to beauty. He promoted Japanese traditions and a brand philosophy that focused on healthy skin as the foundation for beautiful makeup.
“We are all extremely affected by this very sad news,” said Jean-Paul Agon, chief executive officer of L’Oréal, which has had management control of the Shu Uemura brand since 2004, in a statement Tuesday. “Mr. Shu Uemura was an extraordinary individual with whom we had the great privilege of working with great passion and enthusiasm over a seven-year period.”
For more, see Tuesday’s issue of WWD.
