Laetitia Ky has turned her hair into far more than a hairstyle. The Ivorian artist, activist and actress uses her locs to create detailed sculptures that explore identity, Black femininity, gender and social issues.
Born in Abidjan in 1996, Ky began developing her distinctive art after reconnecting with her natural hair and African heritage. Her work draws inspiration from traditional African hairstyles and uses hair as a medium for visual storytelling.
From Hair To Sculptures
Ky shapes her hair into three-dimensional figures, objects and scenes. She uses materials including wire, thread, fabric and extensions to help construct the designs.
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Her pieces have covered subjects ranging from self-acceptance and bodily autonomy to sexism, race and gender-based violence. The messages are often presented through photographs of the finished sculptures.
“I was in a phase in which I was trying to reconcile myself with my own African heritage.”
Ky’s relationship with natural hair developed gradually. She has spoken about growing up in an environment where straightened hair was widely regarded as desirable. Discovering images of African women and traditional hairstyles helped change how she viewed her own hair.
Social Media Takes Her Global
Social media played a major role in bringing Ky’s work to an international audience. She began sharing her sculptures online, where the unusual combination of hairstyling, photography and social commentary attracted widespread attention.
Her work has since appeared in international publications and exhibitions. She was also featured in the 2022 Venice Biennale, while her art has continued to reach audiences through exhibitions and digital platforms.
In 2023, Ky took her story to TEDWomen with her talk Wild, intricate sculptures — made out of my hair. TED describes her work as using hair to communicate ideas around bodily autonomy and self-acceptance.
Beyond Hair Art
Ky’s creativity also extends beyond sculpture. She has worked in film, appearing in Night of the Kings, Disco Boy and Promised Sky.
She is also an author. Her 2022 book, Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty, combines photography with autobiographical storytelling.
Ky has also explored fashion through Kystroy, an inclusive clothing brand that uses alternative descriptions rather than conventional size labels.
Her career shows how a familiar part of everyday life can become a serious artistic medium. For Ky, hair is not simply something to style. It is a way to tell stories, question beauty standards and place African identity at the centre of her work.
