"Rather than concealing, a good mask reveals what is hidden inside."
"Merimask Designs" is Andrea Masse-Tognetti, a self-representing artist from western New York. Andrea is self taught in the art of leather mask making and has been working exclusively with leather sculpture for over twenty years.
In 2006, Merimask created several designs for Cirque Du Soleil. Currently, a synthetic version of her mask "Frivole" is in mass production and available in Cirque Du Soleil gifts shops everywhere.
In 2008, Andrea was invited to create over fifty exclusive masks for the Muscle Musical production "Magicarade", in Tokyo Japan. She appeared on several national Japanese television shows with her masks throughout the 2008-2009 holiday season.
In 2009, Merimask Designs created masks for several stage productions in the United States, including the Jacksonville Nutcracker Ballet in Florida and the Circus Juventas production of "Yulong" in Minneapolis. In October of the same year, Andrea appeared on the Martha Stewart Show and demonstrated her mask-making technique on live national television.
In 2010, Merimask Designs was commissioned to create several wolf masks for Halloween season window displays throughout the United States. The masks were featured in Ralph Lauren Rugby store windows everywhere.
In 2011, A quartet of Merimask's white wolves were featured in an international cosmetics advertising campaign. The wolf masks were used in a fashion photo shoot for Lise Watier Cosmetiques "Neiges" perfume, shot in Toronto. The advertisements appeared throughout Canada during the 2011 holiday season. You can see YouTube videos of the photo shoot here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfl8iLReW_4&feature=player_embedded
...and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJf9vM52VFg&feature=player_embedded
In 2011, Andrea designed four owl masks for an up and coming UK hip-hop group called The Four Owls. Currently, the masks can be seen in performances and videos all throughout Europe and the UK.
Video for the second single 'Not Like Before', taken from 'The Four Owls' debut album 'Nature's Greatest Mystery' on High Focus Records, 5th December. Video directed, filmed and edited by Harry Wheeler. Video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tA16i47I1HM
In 2012, Andrea's white fox mask was featured in an independent film; "White Fox Mask". A GWYCKY FILMS production...official website here: http://www.gwyckyfilms.com/home.html
In the summer of 2012, Merimask was commissioned to produce designs for the Metropolitan Opera. Over fifty Anubis masks appeared on stage (and simulcast in movie theaters across the world) in the 2013 production of "Rigoletto".
Also in 2013, Merimask's black fox mask appeared on episode 304 of the ABC hit TV show "Once Upon A Time".
In 2014, Merimask has created three designs exclusively for Katy Perry's "Prismatic" world tour. Her Egyptian masks are featured during the song "Dark Horse" and are worn by Katy's dancers (costume design by Marina Toybina).
In 2015 and again in 2016, Andrea's Horus Egyptian falcon mask was featured on the TV show "The Librarians".
Andrea is constantly creating in her tiny studio. Expect more good things to come from it soon!
