Chains & Crowns

Chains & Crowns explores afro hairstyles and its impact on culture from a socio-historical standpoint. As the lineage of these hairstyles are followed, we find the opportunity to understand members of the culture not only from a technical standpoint, speaking on structure, maintenance and styling, but the history of the people and persons. Timestamped are these hairstyles throughout members of the artist's communal and individual history, as they’ve cycled through periods of oppression and appreciation through the lens of society and self. Many of these hairstyles deriving from Africa and the Caribbean have not only been repurposed for survival and adaptation but ingenuity and creativity. Deeply woven within the roots of black culture is the influence of style, community and resilience that has brought growth and character development to many of its members throughout time. This shifting of character has brought forth a unique perspective to our Western culture. As we arrive in the present moment, we are free to follow the strands of love, contentment, and overall beauty of what we call “black hair”. 

“The way you introduce the concept of black hair as a crown is so mind-opening for me because it ties into so much of our experience. It identifies you but it also uplifts you…..” 

  • Phil LaMarr

Afro Kinky no. 1

Close-up of curly black hair with purple and pink highlights against a black background.

Bleached Auburn no. 1

A black textured head with curly hair dyed pink on top, viewed from the back on a black background.

Box Braids no. 3

Two yarn balls with purple, black, and beige threads tied with purple and pink fringes on a black background

Finger Twists no. 1

Close-up of a head with curly, gray hair against a black background.

French Braid (straight) no. 1

Close-up of a person's head with black hair styled in a French braid on a black background.

High Cut Fade no. 1

Close-up of a person's shaved head with curly hair on top, black and white with a drop shadow on black background.

madras no. 2

A black and pink patterned headscarf tied in a knot, centered against a black background.

Omber Locs no. 1

Close-up of bundled dreadlocks artfully arranged to resemble a human head against a black background.

Pixie Cut no. 1

Close-up of a black furry object with green streaks on a black background.

Senegalese Twists no. 4

Close-up of dreadlocks with dark and greenish highlights on a black background.

Twist Out no. 1

A close-up of a person's curly black hair with brown highlights against a black background.

Afro no. 1

A close-up of a mass of thick, curly, black and brown dreadlocks on a black background.

Bleached Blonde no. 1

Close-up of a human scalp with curly gray hair against a black background.

Crochet Locs no. 1

Colorful yarn strands twisted together on a black background, forming a bundled shape.

Fishtail Cornrows no. 1

Top view of a person's head with braided hair against a black background.

Frohawk no. 1

Close-up of a person's head with dark, curly hair, isolated on black background.

High Cut Fade no. 2

Close-up of a person's short, curly black hair against a black background.

Madras no. 3 jpg

A black background with a round object at the center. The object has a smooth, beige, fabric cover and is surrounded by a thick, braided, beige cord or rope looped around it.

Passion Twist no. 2

Close-up of braided hair against a black background.

Rows no. 1

Close-up of a coiled hair braid on a black background

Shorn no. 1

Close-up of the top of a person's dark, textured scalp with a small wound and some redness, against a black background.

Wig no. 3

Back of a person's head with wavy hair dyed in a gradient from platinum blonde to purple to black, against a black background.

Afro no. 2

Close-up of a dark, textured, round object with a rough surface against a solid black background.

Box Braids final 2

A pile of gray and black braided hair extensions with some green highlights, arranged in a twisted shape against a black background.

Crochet Mohawk no. 1

Close-up of a person's head with short black hair on one side and long, tight, silver-blonde curls on the other, set against a black background.

Flat Iron no. 1

Back view of long, straight, black hair with subtle blue highlights against a black background.

Ghana Braids no. 1

Close-up of a single black and gray braided hair extension with hints of pink, styled in a bun against a black background.

Madra no. 1

A rolled fabric with a detailed floral pattern in shades of pink and black, centered on a black background.

Madras no. 4

A fabric headwrap with purple and silver floral pattern on a black background.

Passion Twist no. 3

Close-up of a bundle of tightly coiled purple black hair extensions against a black background.

Rows no. 2

Close-up of purple and black braids hairstyle against a black background.

Straight Blowout no. 1

Back view of curly, silver-gray hair on a black background.

Bantu Knots no. 1

Close-up of a Bantu Knot hairstyle on a black background.

Box braids no. 1

A black woman with thick braided hair styled in two buns, wearing a headscarf, against a black background.

Dreadlocks no. 1

Close-up of black dreadlocked hair with a portion of the scalp visible, dark background.

Freeform no. 1

A 3D X-ray scan of a small potted plant with bluish-green leaves.

Hi-top no. 1 final

A close-up of a black, fuzzy, textured object resembling a synthetic or natural fiber above a dark gray base on a black background.

Madra no. 6

A worn, rolled fabric-covered object resembling a handmade doll or sculpture, set against a black background.

Marley Twists no. 2

Close-up of a ball of green and black yarn with a reflection on a black background.

Passion Twist no. 4

Close-up of a coiled black hair bun with intricate twists against a black background.

Senegalese Twists no. 1

Back view of dark gray and purple braided hair against a black background.

Straightened no. 2

Back of a person's head with dark hair and purple curled tips, against a black background.

  • Curriculum (arts/identity/SEL), community dialogues, DEI learning, youth programs.

    Formats

    Exhibition, artist talks, classroom guides, licensed imagery, publication assets.

  • Belonging, cultural literacy, acknowledgment of origins, intergenerational storytelling.