Black Hair Celebrated As Art At Bronner Brothers International Beauty Show 2024 | by Natasha Decker

During this year's Bronner Brothers International Beauty Show, the beauty of Black/Afro hair was celebrated as the art it is.

A one-of-a-kind "hair art exhibit" was on display for attendees to view during the legendary Black beauty super event's run Feb. 24 - 26 in Atlanta, Georgia. Formally titled UNTANGLED: Combing Through the Roots of Black Hair, the curation included art pieces by 13 talented artists inspired by Afro-textured hair.

The collection included free-standing and wall-mounted creations -- and a panel discussion accompanied the exhibit. The art show was thoughtfully described by its creators as follows:

"For Black people, hair is more than just beauty. It is a vital element of self-expression and identity. Its versatility has historically been the source of everything from pain and shame to celebration and revolution. Each strand carries personal stories and political weight rooted in ancestral legacies. This exhibition untangles that pain and that power with a dynamic group of artists who celebrate Black hair as the ultimate display of freedom and pride."

UNTANGLED was curated by Jarvis DuBois, a Smithsonian Museum specialist, and Gia Harewood, a curator and professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The two were tapped on for the project by celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright. The latter, a "textured hair specialist" and author, has previously worked with Tamron Hall and Samira Wiley.

UNTANGLED was presented via a collaboration between MYAVANA and Carol's Daughter, two haircare companies for those with curly, kinky and coily hair.

Harewood shared on social media in mid-December 2023 that UNTANGLED was first displayed during that month's annual Art Basel festival in Miami, Florida. The university professor later revealed that the exhibit was particularly requested to be shown at The Bronner Bros. iconic trade show last month.

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The Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show is focused on multicultural beauty. It includes live demonstrations, competitions, shopping opportunities and more. With over 100 classes and 300 booths to explore, this year's show was assumably an extraordinary networking opportunity for industry professionals and hair enthusiasts alike.

Below, see photos from the UNTANGLED art exhibit at the Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show.