Joel Harlow
WDCC Sculptor
Joel Harlow is an Academy Award-winning makeup and effects artist whose creative work also encompasses painting, jewelry design and fine-art sculpture.
His contribution to the Walt Disney Classics Collection brought his experience with realistic character creation to sculptures inspired by the live-action world of Pirates of the Caribbean.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Discover the artist behind the sculptures
Joel Harlow built his career in the film industry as a makeup and special-effects artist, specializing in the creation and transformation of characters for the screen.
His work on Star Trek earned him the Academy Award for Best Makeup, and his film career has brought further Academy Award recognition for projects including The Lone Ranger and Star Trek Beyond.
Harlow's artistic practice is not limited to makeup effects: he is also a painter, jewelry designer and fine-art sculptor, with work exhibited in galleries.
Joel Harlow & WDCC
Work for the Walt Disney Classics Collection
Joel Harlow's contribution to the Walt Disney Classics Collection focused on the live-action world of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
He sculpted Elizabeth Swann in Daring Determination and Will Turner in Bloodstained Bravado, translating live-action characters into the highly detailed format of WDCC collectible sculpture.
Daring Determination was released in 2009 as a numbered limited edition of 1,000 pieces.
NOTABLE WDCC CREATIONS
A selection of sculptures created by Joel Harlow
BEYOND WDCC
Other projects and collectible lines
Harlow's principal career lies in film makeup and creature effects, where sculpture forms an essential part of designing and building characters for live-action productions.
His broader artistic work extends into fine-art sculpture, painting and jewelry design, demonstrating an approach to character and form that crosses several different mediums.
- Film makeup and prosthetics
- Creature and character effects
- Fine-art sculpture
- Painting
- Jewelry design
DID YOU KNOW?
A little story behind the artist
Joel Harlow's WDCC work represents an unusual meeting of collectible sculpture and Hollywood makeup effects.
The same artist who sculpted Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner for WDCC went on to receive the Academy Award for his makeup work on Star Trek.