Laetitia Ky
Sculpting Identity, Activism and Liberation with Hair
Laetitia Ky (b. 1996 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast) transforms her natural hair into breathtaking sculptures—bold, political, and utterly original. Using her dreadlocks, wire, wool, thread and extensions, Ky crafts visual statements that challenge beauty norms, centre Black identity, and empower women across the globe.
An Artistic Method Rooted in Heritage and Self-Love
Ky’s creations are inspired by pre‑colonial African hairstyles, which she encountered during adolescence. Despite growing up surrounded by Black women, she realised only at 16 that her own natural hair was worthy of visibility—and beauty.
Each sculpture begins intuitively: she sketches her idea, then braids her hair into sculptural forms—sometimes symbolic hands, objects, or flora—attaching wire, thread or materials and photographing the result. The process—sometimes lasting between twenty minutes to several hours—blurs art, performance and identity.
Hair as Activism: Feminism, Self‑worth and Storytelling
What started as aesthetic experimentation quickly became activism. In 2017, one work—her hair sculpted into a second pair of hands—went viral, inspiring others to embrace natural hair. Her pieces have directly addressed #MeToo, body positivity, breast flattening, gender inequality and racism.
She shared how one parent told her that after seeing Ky’s work, her daughter refused to straighten her curls. That impact—of changing even one person’s perspective—is central to Ky’s mission.
Building Community Through Representation and Education
Ky extends her vision into teaching—hosting Ky Braids workshops that harness hair sculpture as both artistic technique and confidence-building practice.
In 2018, she launched her fashion label Kystroy, which uses inclusive, body-positive language in its sizing and draws on African fabrics and identity.
Her creations have featured in global spaces—from major campaigns by luxury brands like Marc Jacobs, to exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and a solo installation titled “Empow’Hair.”
Legacy & Vision
Laetitia Ky stands as a striking example of how personal identity can fuel creative revolution. Through hair-sculpture, she weaves together activism, heritage, artistry and empowerment. Her mission is unapologetically African and deeply feminist—inviting a future where beauty, politics and self-expression converge through imagination and intention. She reminds African creatives to wield what is natural, personal, and rooted—transforming it into art that shifts minds and changes culture.