Artist Statement

As a Black American I strive to accurately represent my people regardless of bias on skin
color, religion, class, and gender identity. I focus on emphasizing Black American Life
through my connection, experience, and overall history with natural hair. Hair has a
particularly important place in my life, I am tied to it through nostalgia, unruly hair days,
and the journey of learning about my hair and listening to what it needs on a day-to-day
basis. I started doing my own hair in the 5th grade, and from then on, I fell more in love with
the uniqueness of each curl and kink. With my works, I want to display the variety of styles
that are popular as well as the in between.
Often naturally curly/ kinky hair is not considered “Professional” inside of corporate
America. Our hair growing curly from the scalp is not seen as “Done” so many places
required our hair to be straight or gel’d down to look presentable. My work plays in that
“presentability” space that is often needed from all black people living in the United States.
“Your hair must be able to be combed with a fine-tooth comb… Can you change your hair it
is a bit of a distraction to the people around you… Your hair does not align with
company/school policy/ dress code.” These are a few instances where our natural hair is an
issue for others. With my sculptural heads I dive into the discussion around presentability
and how black women’s hair and facial expressions dictate how we are treated. I use yarn
to encompass natural hair in my sculptures and paintings, though I occasionally use
synthetic hair fibers and shoelaces for variety and added texture. Even my paintings play on
my natural hair texture and showcase styles that are nostalgic to me as well as
encompassing all different varieties of natural hair styles
I work with the history regarding the transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow Era, as well as
Tignon law. The Tignon law was created in 1786 by the state governor of Louisiana requiring
black women to cover their hair with a head wrap known as a Tignon because our hair was
seen as a distraction. I display this discussion of breaking free and resistance in many of
my painting which are painted with watercolour adding to water element of women
choosing death over bondage. Through the years we as a people have been
mischaracterized greatly in the media due to few black people having access to very
segregated Hollywood Studios. The world got to see us be mischaracterized for years from
other cultures who have only heard false stereotypes about people of color, causing others
to treat us differently based on bias and prejudice. I want to breakdown that barrier so we
can all thrive in our creativity with out sacrificing our culture for others comfort.