By Joan Obinagwam
In a world where art meets activism, Laetitia Ky stands out as a trailblazing force. This Ivorian sensation transforms her dreadlocks into gravity-defying sculptures that tackle feminism, race, and empowerment. The Elucidator gathered Ky’s hair art is reshaping beauty standards and sparking global conversations.
From Abidjan roots to artistic awakening
Born in 1996 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Laetitia Ky’s journey began far from the spotlight. After earning a business administration degree from the Institut national polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, she ditched corporate dreams for creative passions. A personal battle with hair loss at 16 ignited her dive into the natural hair movement, rare in her homeland despite its cultural prevalence. Inspired by pre-colonial African women’s intricate hairstyles—symbols of identity, status, and tribe—Ky taught herself sewing and sculpting, blending tradition with modern activism. Her parents’ divorce and childhood bullying fueled her feminist fire, turning personal pain into powerful art.
The Magic of Hair Sculpting:
Ky’s “Ky Concept” is pure innovation: she extends her dreadlocks with weaves, then molds them using wire, thread, and African wax prints. Sculptures stay attached to her head, created intuitively in front of a mirror or from sketches. Simple pieces take 20 minutes; complex ones, up to six hours. She photographs them solo with a tripod, removing them post-shoot to avoid discomfort. This method celebrates Black hair’s strength, weaving in elements like traditional instruments, wildlife, and activist symbols. Her Abidjan apartment doubles as a studio, buzzing with paintings, canvases, and multidisciplinary experiments.
Iconic works: From playful to political
Ky’s sculptures are witty yet profound. Early hits include a 2017 piece of a man lifting a woman’s skirt to call out sexism, and bulging arm muscles symbolizing anti-bullying strength. She protests global injustices—like female genital mutilation, breast flattening, and anti-abortion laws—through forms like a uterus with defiant middle-finger fallopian tubes or stretch marks on a woman’s body. Playful series feature hair as guitars, wine glasses, or self-love gestures, like sniffing a flower from a life-sized hand. Recent works mix painting and sculpting, such as a bee-themed piece equating motherhood to labor and sweetness, or vibrant canvases exploring mental load and empowerment. Each strand tells a story of African identity, reclaiming beauty from colonial shadows.
Feminism, race, justice
At her core, Ky champions feminism tailored to African realities, amplifying silenced voices on gender equality, sexuality, periods, and aging—taboos that draw backlash in Ivory Coast. Her art confronts race and sexism, embracing Black features she once wished away. Social justice shines through critiques of infidelity as emotional violence and calls for self-protection. Influenced by figures like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and J.K. Rowling, she uses hair as a medium for the human condition, fostering inclusivity via workshops like “Ky Braids” and upcoming comics featuring Ivorian superheroes.
Exhibitions, awards, collaborations
Ky’s rise exploded in 2017 with viral sculptures, landing her in Paper magazine’s “100 People Taking Over 2019” and a Elite Model contract. Key exhibitions include the 2022 Venice Biennale (Ivory Coast Pavilion), her solo “Empow’Hair” at LIS10 Gallery, and 2025’s “A KYOTO HAIR-ITAGE” at KYOTOGRAPHIE, fusing photography with Japanese influences. Awards: “On the Rise Côte d’Ivoire” (2018), Prix Jeunesse Francophone. Collaborations span musician Di’Ja’s Himba-inspired braids and film roles in *Night of the Kings* (2020), *Disco Boy* (2023), and *Promised Sky* (2025). Her 2022 book *Love and Justice* chronicles her journey, while a 2024 TED Talk, “Wild, intricate sculptures — made out of my hair,” cements her voice.
A polyvalent powerhouse
Ky isn’t just a sculptor—she’s a fashion designer with an inclusive brand Kystroy, a painter, musician, writer, and actor. Her Cannes debut in 2025 with *Promised Sky* highlights her versatility. Social media shares everything from smoothie recipes to meme-worthy art, building a community despite online bullying. Fearless and authentic, she advocates for safer platforms and true representation.
The Elucidator learnt that Laetitia Ky’s works aren’t mere aesthetics—they’re revolutions in every twist and turn. By embracing her roots, she’s inspiring a generation to sculpt their own narratives of strength and beauty.