Rising Stars: Meet Kateryna Strukova of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kateryna Strukova.

Hi Kateryna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to transformation, even before I fully understood what that could become.

I started my journey in Ukraine, where I explored different forms of visual art and storytelling. Over time, I realized that makeup gave me a unique way to combine everything I loved, art, emotion, and the ability to completely transform how a person is perceived. What began as curiosity gradually turned into a profession.

As I moved into the film industry, I found my place. I love being on set, building characters, thinking through their story visually, and contributing to a larger creative vision. My work has expanded across feature films, short films, series, commercials, and music videos, each project adding to both my technical skill and creative perspective.

At the same time, I continue working with private clients, both in my studio and on location. That balance between film and personal work keeps me creatively flexible and connected to different sides of the industry.

Moving to Los Angeles became a major turning point in my life. It meant rebuilding my career from the ground up, entering a new market, adapting to a different production culture, and earning trust all over again. At the same time, it opened the door to new opportunities and a much larger creative environment.

Something that has always stayed with me from my early experience is a connection to art beyond film, especially projects related to exhibitions and cultural storytelling. That perspective continues to shape how I see my work today.

Looking ahead, I’ve been developing a long-term creative concept, a museum dedicated to U.S. presidents. It’s a future-oriented project that combines my background in visual art with storytelling, aiming to create an immersive experience through makeup, sculpture, and design. While it’s still in development, it reflects the direction I see my work growing toward.

For me, this journey is not just about working in the industry, it’s about continuously evolving as an artist and expanding what this craft can become.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a straight path.

One of the biggest challenges was moving to a new country and rebuilding my career from scratch. Even with experience, entering a new industry means starting over, building relationships, understanding a different workflow, and proving yourself again in a competitive environment.

Another challenge is the nature of film work itself. Sets can be intense, long hours, constant changes, and a high level of responsibility. In special effects work especially, there’s very little margin for error, so you have to stay focused, adaptable, and ready to solve problems quickly.

I also tend to take on multiple directions at once, working in film, with private clients, and developing long-term creative ideas. Balancing all of that requires discipline and clarity, but it also keeps me growing.

Looking back, I see those challenges as an important part of my journey. They pushed me to become more resilient, adaptable, and confident in my work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is centered around character creation and visual storytelling.

In film, I design and execute looks that support the character and the narrative, whether it’s natural beauty, subtle transformations, or more complex special effects like injuries and prosthetics. I’m especially drawn to the process of building a character visually, understanding their story and translating it into details that feel real on camera.

I work across different formats, including feature films, short films, series, commercials, and music videos. Each project brings a different creative challenge, which is something I really enjoy.

Outside of film, I work with private clients as well, offering both beauty services and customized looks. That side of my work is more personal and keeps me connected to people in a different way.

At the same time, I’m continuing to develop a long-term creative direction that expands beyond film, combining makeup, sculpture, and immersive storytelling into larger artistic concepts.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Adaptability is one of the most important qualities in my work.

Every project is different, and things can change quickly, so being able to adjust and stay calm under pressure is essential.

Attention to detail is also critical. In film, even the smallest detail can make a difference on camera, so precision is a big part of what I do.

And I would also say curiosity, the desire to keep learning, experimenting, and growing as an artist. That mindset is what drives me forward and opens new possibilities in my work.

Pricing:

• Film / Production Day Rate: starting from $500/day + kit fee
• SFX / Prosthetics work: priced based on complexity, materials, and prep time
• Private clients (beauty makeup): starting from $200+
• On-location services: custom quotes depending on scope and travel
• Additional costs may include specialized materials, prosthetics, or extended hours

Contact Info:

• Website: https://StrukovaFx.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strukovafx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekaterina.strukova.946
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateryna-strukova-abb245284

Image Credits
Photo 1: Behind the scenes: Kateryna Strukova with silicone lifecasts prepared for a series cover shoot. Photo by Vadim Seryi.
Photo 2: Bazaar editorial featuring Ashley Bellot. Makeup: Kateryna Strukova. Photo: Alevtina Kalashnik.
Photo 3: Behind the scenes: Kateryna Strukova doing makeup touch-ups on Chey Crieger on set of the feature film Nevo. Photo by Angelika Farani.
Photo 4: Prosthetic makeup demo on Fabian Mendoza at Monsterpalooza (EBA booth). Makeup: Kateryna Strukova. Prosthetic by RBFX.
Photo 5: Behind the scenes: Kateryna Strukova doing makeup touch-ups on Matthew Patrick Davis on set of a Modelo Chelada commercial. Photo by Sean Maydoney (@_maydo).
Photo 6: Creature concept for the short film Rezhim, featuring Julian Tso. Makeup: Kateryna Strukova. Photo by Mariia Melnichenko.
Photo 7: Behind the scenes: Kateryna Strukova completing the final look of a sculpture of Mykola Amosov for the Museum of the Formation of the Ukrainian Nation. Photo by Daryna Momot.
Photo 8: Behind the scenes: Kateryna Strukova at work in her studio, refining a silicone figure surrounded by references and process materials.