Taiba Akhuetie's Hair Sculptures Transform Everyday Objects at Sarabande Foundation
Taiba Akhuetie creates uncanny sculptures using human and synthetic hair, covering everyday items like handbags, mirrors, rocking chairs, and umbrellas with braids and loose strands. Her work, which has attracted clients including Rihanna and Cate Blanchett, will be exhibited at the Sarabande Foundation in London. Akhuetie's fascination with hair began in childhood, watching her aunt braid her sister's hair. The resulting objects evoke taxidermy, blurring the line between animate and inanimate.
Key facts
- Taiba Akhuetie uses human and synthetic hair as her medium.
- She constructs mundane items such as handbags, mirrors, rocking chairs, and umbrellas out of hair.
- Her work has an eerie taxidermy-like quality.
- Akhuetie's clients include Rihanna and Cate Blanchett.
- Her work will be exhibited at the Sarabande Foundation in London.
- She was fascinated by hair in childhood, watching her aunt braid her sister's hair.
- The exhibition is upcoming at the time of the article.
- The article was published by The Guardian on May 21, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Taiba Akhuetie
Institutions
- Sarabande Foundation
- The Guardian
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom