Shirak will be a juror for the Masquerade!

16 April 2025

Meet Shirak

Shirak is an acclaimed cosplayer who has been making costumes for over twenty years now! She has observed and co-created the cosplay scene in three different countries – the UK, Germany and Spain –  and has participated in a variety of events, both local and international. As a cosplayer, she is best known for her Gary Oldman’s Dracula costume. This is an outstanding make-up and cosplay work that attracts the attention of everyone who has dealt with it.

In 2015, she represented the United Kingdom in the European Cosplay Gathering competition (for which Polish qualifiers take place at the Pyrkon Masquerade!), where she won the “Arda Wigs – Best Wig” award in the finals. She was also a multiple finalist of The Next Level of Cosplay international competition, organized by Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles, which resulted in the award of a scholarship enabling her to study at this school. In 2019, she also won the Ve Neil’s Legends of Makeup Contest.

She has been a guest at events such as Fantasy Basel, Comic Con Germany, Hyper Japan, and Salón Manga de Bilbao in Spain. Many times, she was a juror of cosplay competitions and a panelist. She also conducted workshops on creating characterizations in the field of special effects.

She is coming to Pyrkon as a juror of the Masquerade and will be happy to share her observations. You will also be able to take part in her makeup workshops!

Full-time SFX artist

Daily, Shirak is an independent artist dealing with special effects in makeup and prosthetics. She shared her experience in the book Special Makeup Effects and Prosthetics – An Essential Guide for Beginners & Cosplayers.  As she calls it – it is the only book fully devoted to special effects. 

She also creates film props. Her work can be seen in music videos by such bands as Bring Me The Horizon and Enter Shikari, as well as in films and series – Gladiator 2, Aquaman 2, Willow and Doctor Who.  

With her skills, she delighted the jury in many competitions, including winning the Prosthetics Application Station at The Prosthetics Event 2019. She cooperates with numerous conventions, where she conducts shows and workshops on the creation and application of SFX makeup.

If you feel that you are interested in this type of makeup, prepare your notebooks and get ready for workshops and lectures that Shirak will conduct at Pyrkon!