This piece illustrates an African American woman whose hair is in its natural states. The hair which was made using cotton balls, acrylic paint, and glue acts as a reminder of the grim past African Americans have faced in this country. Additionally, the female depicted eyes are covered by a band which states “beauty.” The purpose of this illustration is to challenge the viewers’ idea of beauty. Often times, girls of color, specifically darker girls, are led to believe that their traits whether it be nappy hair, a big nose, big lips, or dark skin are not beautiful. However, that is an outdated ideal. In making this piece, I wanted to empower women of color to embrace their heritage and their natural beauty. Similarly, I wanted individuals to perceive things beyond the ideal of Eurocentric beauty standards.
This piece is brought to life in my project the "Redefine Beauty Campaign."