Nail Tech: Portrait of an Artist

Nail Tech: Portrait of an Artist (2025) explores the life and cultural impact of Miami Florida-based nail artist Kro Vargas, whose trend-setting designs have graced the pages of Vogue and the fingertips of major musical artists like Ivy Queen and Ice Spice. The documentary highlights how nail art is a meaningful form of cultural expression that shapes larger developments in visual art, fashion, and popular culture. The film also explores the friendships and salons that have shaped Vargas’s career, like Optima Lite and Spring with Friends. Telling the story of nail techs is telling a history of style, culture, and women’s entrepreneurship in Miami.

Premiered in 2025 at HistoryMiami Museum and is an official 2026 Miami Film Festival selection

Directed by Jillian Hernandez and Elena Guzman

Edited by Katyann Gonzalez