Sharon Lynn Gault

LOS ANGELES, CA — September 17, 2026 — Sharon Gault, the legendary celebrity makeup artist affectionately known throughout the beauty, fashion and entertainment worlds as “Mama Makeup,” died on September 16, 2026. She was 61.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Gault helped create some of the most recognizable images and defining pop culture moments of her generation, working with artists and performers including Madonna, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Gwen Stefani, Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Garner, Renée Zellweger, Cindy Crawford, Uma Thurman and Hilary Swank, among many others.

Yet to the generations of artists who knew and loved her, Sharon was far more than the remarkable body of work she left behind. She was a mentor, teacher, mother, friend, muse and unmistakable creative force. Generous with her knowledge and endlessly enthusiastic about creativity, she became a beloved and deeply influential figure within the professional makeup community.

Born January 2, 1965, in Santa Monica, California, Sharon was fascinated by photography and fashion from a young age. She initially pursued photography before finding her way to Vidal Sassoon, first as a hair model and later as a student at the Vidal Sassoon Academy. She developed her skills as a hairstylist before discovering the medium that would ultimately become her calling: makeup.

Her career took a defining turn when she joined Madonna’s groundbreaking Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990, working on hair for the tour’s dancers and singers and becoming part of the intimate world captured in the landmark documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare. It was during this period that Sharon acquired the affectionate nickname that would follow her throughout her life: Mama Makeup.

Not long afterward, Sharon worked with Michael Jackson during his Dangerous World Tour. Those experiences placed her at the center of some of the era’s defining moments in popular culture and helped establish a career that would ultimately span generations.

Sharon became one of the most sought-after makeup artists of her time. Her artistry appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, i-D, Rolling Stone, Elle, GQ, Glamour, Allure and Marie Claire, among other influential publications, as well as in music videos, advertising campaigns, live performances and some of the most memorable celebrity photographs of their era.

Among the most important creative relationships of Sharon’s life was her decades-long friendship and collaboration with photographer David LaChapelle.

The two met on a photo shoot in New York and immediately recognized something in one another. Their friendship quickly developed into an extraordinary creative partnership. Sharon became one of LaChapelle’s closest collaborators and, uniquely, one of his muses as well. She worked behind the camera helping create many of his fantastical images while also stepping in front of it herself, becoming an unforgettable part of the visual world they created together.

Their relationship extended far beyond work. It was a profound friendship built on humor, imagination, loyalty and a shared belief in the transformative possibilities of art.

David LaChapelle remembers Sharon:

“Sharon was family to me. From the moment we met, there was this immediate recognition—we understood each other creatively, but more importantly, we understood each other as people. She had an enormous heart, an incredible sense of humor and a fearlessness that made everything around her more alive. Sharon wasn’t only a brilliant artist; she was a muse, a collaborator and one of the most original people I have ever known.

“We made so many pictures together, traveled the world together, laughed endlessly and shared a friendship that changed my life. She gave so much of herself to everyone she loved and to generations of artists who looked to her as Mama. That’s who Sharon was. She made people feel seen, encouraged and loved. I will miss her beyond words, but I will carry her with me always. Be Love—that IS Sharon.” — David LaChapelle

Throughout an extraordinary professional life, however, Sharon’s proudest role was being mother to her daughter, Adelaide Gault.

Sharon raised Adelaide as a proud and devoted single mother while simultaneously building an international career. For Sharon, motherhood and artistry were never separate worlds. From a young age, Adelaide accompanied her mother to work, growing up on sets and alongside the extraordinary creative community that surrounded her.

Sharon was immensely proud of Adelaide, and their bond remained one of the great constants of her life. Most recently, Adelaide welcomed a son, Leo, giving Sharon the profound joy of becoming a grandmother.

Within the makeup community, Sharon was known simply and affectionately as Mama, and the name could hardly have been more fitting.

Mentorship was one of the defining parts of Sharon’s life and legacy. Throughout her career, she took countless young and aspiring makeup artists under her wing, generously sharing her knowledge, experience and access to an industry that could often be difficult to enter. She had an extraordinary instinct for recognizing young talent and took genuine pride in helping it grow.

Many of the artists Sharon mentored went on to build successful and distinguished careers of their own throughout the beauty, fashion and entertainment industries. Her influence therefore extends far beyond her own remarkable body of work. It lives on through generations of artists who learned from her, assisted her and carried what she taught them into their own careers.

Sharon believed knowledge was meant to be shared, not guarded. She opened doors and created opportunities. She did not simply teach young artists how to apply makeup. She taught them how to become working artists.

Sharon was also a passionate seeker of spirituality. Throughout her life, she searched openly for greater meaning, exploring different traditions, teachers and philosophies. Her spiritual journey carried her from the Hare Krishna movement to the teachings of Marianne Williamson and beyond. Ultimately, the philosophy she returned to was remarkably simple.

For the last decades of her life, Sharon repeated two words that became her mantra:

Be Love.

Her enormous personality, irreverent humor, compassion and unmistakable individuality made her impossible to forget. She could be glamorous and outrageous, maternal and mischievous, vulnerable and fiercely encouraging—sometimes all at once. In an industry that could take itself very seriously, Sharon brought warmth, humanity and joy.

Sharon is survived by her beloved daughter, Adelaide Gault; her grandson, Leo; her nephews, Tommy and Jared; her brother, Ted; and her sister, Patty.

Her influence lives on in her family, in the artists she taught, in the careers she helped begin, in the friendships she nurtured and in the unforgettable images she helped bring into the world.

Be Love.

Forever Mama Makeup.

ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY OF SHARON GAULT

This obituary and announcement have been prepared and released with the approval of Sharon Gault’s family. The family respectfully asks for privacy as they grieve and is deeply grateful for the extraordinary outpouring of love for Sharon from friends, colleagues, artists and the creative community she considered family.

Please consider donating to Sharon Gault’s Go Fund Me: Sharon Gault's Arrangements

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