Laetitia KY Transforms Hair into Sculptures Inspired by African Culture

New York-based actress and artist Laetitia KY, originally from Ivory Coast, uses her natural hair as a medium for sculptural works that celebrate African culture. Over nearly ten years, she has created gravity-defying hairstyles that blur the line between hairstyling and sculpture, shaping braids into animals, food, geometric forms, and even arm-like extensions with hair hands. In one series, she recreates pre-colonial African hairstyles from archival photographs, highlighting their historical significance in conveying age, social status, tribe, and spiritual meaning. Another series draws on Adinkra symbols from the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast, selecting seven symbols such as Dwennimnen (ram's horns) representing strength and wisdom, and Duafe (wooden comb) symbolizing femininity and care. KY shares that each finished style makes her feel truly beautiful and connected to her heritage, despite acknowledging the imperfections of any culture. Her work is documented on Instagram under the handle @laetitiaky.