Founded by independent curator, Rita de Alencar Pinto in 2008, Vanity Projects first began as a pop-up, organizing itself in the homes and studios of visual artists, friends, and art aficionados. Vanity Projects quickly received offers to present at art fairs, fashion events, museums, and cultural institutions. In January 2013, MoMA PS1 invited Vanity Projects to do a three-month pop-up within the Confettisystems installation, held in the museum’s duplex.
It was at this time that Pinto developed the concept of the artist-in-residence program. Offering the top international nail artists the chance to engage and experience the exchange of technique and ideas, the program coincided with the salon’s brick-and-mortar debut in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in July 2013. Since then Vanity Projects has hosted over one hundred international nail artists in both the New York and Miami locations.
Since opening Vanity Projects has appeared in over 50 publications, including being named ‘Best of New York’ by both Allure and New York Magazines. In addition to editorial spreads, our artists have assisted and lead runways shows at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York and Miami Swim. Vanity Projects has been invited to participate in pop-ups at the Pulizer Foundation in St. Louis, The Brooklyn Museum, The Aldrich Museum, Los Angeles Contemporary Art Fair, NADA Miami Beach, Sculpture Center and the Aspen Museum of Art.
In April 2015, Vanity Projects opened its second location in Miami, Florida. In 2017 it relocated to The Miami Design District. The same year Vanity Projects partnered with the British foundation Daata Editions, a leading online video art platform. Daata Editions commission’s artist video, sound, poetry and web-based works.
In 2021 Vanity Projects launched two adjunct businesses aimed at offsetting the impact of COVID. Press On Nails VP, a hand-painted press on nails business, aimed at offering a solution for clients who were sheltering at home and unable to get their favorite beauty treatment, this business has now grown to offer a menu of designs in a variety of options to custom bespoke sets that are available in salon and online. In addition to that, we embarked on a journey to launch what we considered to be a serious void in the marketplace; shaping the next generation of nail artists, our online education platform Vanity Projects Institute.
In 2023 the New York salon expanded and renovated to include the entire building at 99 Chrystie Street. The salon now seats twenty manicure stations and three pedicure seats. The same year the Miami salon also expanded and moved to the Wynwood Arts District with 3,000 Sqft street front renovated where house and private garden. Now offering a retail boutique and outdoor space for private events.
In 2025 Vanity Projects was given the unique opportunity to be certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security to offer the Q1 Cultural Exchange Visa: this 15-month program offers a working visa for participants who possess exemplary skills and can showcase the traditions, heritage, customs and expertise of their native country through nail art technique.
We are perpetually committed to our mission of quality and with top tier talent, technical expertise and exemplary products.