Taiba Akhuetie
Taiba Akhuetie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1991/1992 (age 34–35) Kingston, Surrey, England |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Known for | Hair art |
Taiba Akhuetie (born 1991/1992)[1] is a British artist of Nigerian descent who creates art using synthetic hair.[1][2][3]
Akhuetie grew up in a Nigerian household in Kingston, Surrey.[1][3][4] Living in "a very white middle-class area", she learned about societal preferences for European hair. She learned how to braid from her mother and an auntie, and braided the hair of her schoolmates.[1][3][5]
In 2014, Akhuetie and her friend Jessy Linton launched a braiding service, Keash.[5][6] The service expanded into a salon and beauty agency.[7][8]
When her salon work was sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic, Akhuetie began making artwork with hair, primarily synthetic hair purchased in bulk from Black hair shops in London.[1][2][9] In 2021 she held her first solo exhibition, We Need Some More Black in Hair, with photography by Aidan Zamiri. The exhibition featured braids made into articles of clothing and everyday objects.[2][10][11] A TikTok video Akhuetie posted in 2024, showing an umbrella covered with synthetic hair, had received more than 100,000 views by May 2026.[1][12] In May 2026, Akhuetie held an exhibition at the Sarabande Foundation, The Tone: Taiba’s World of Hair.[1][13]
Akhuetie's clients have included FKA Twigs, Jorja Smith, Burna Boy, Tems, Rihanna, and Cate Blanchett.[1][7][10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Frazer-Carroll, Micha (21 May 2026). "Wiggy stardust! The mind-blowing hair artist who astonished Rihanna and Cate Blanchett". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Wheeler, André-Naquian (11 January 2023). "This British Artist Turns Synthetic Hair Into Wearable Art". British Vogue. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Bachert, Amelie (10 November 2025). "Taiba Akhuetie – Do Not Tame". Metal. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "Threads of Identity: Taiba Akhuetie Weaves Hair Into Wearable Art". Touch Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 Cochrane, Lauren (13 April 2015). "The rise of the in-store braiding bar". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ Kia, Kara (25 June 2018). "How This Self-Taught Hairstylist Turned Braiding Into Her Main Hustle". Refinery29. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 Barnes, Ekow (18 April 2021). "The Culture List: These Hair Stylists Create Looks That Are Works of Art". Ebony. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ Espy-Jones, India (10 March 2025). "In The Chair With: Taiba Akhuetie". Essence. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ Van Dyke, Isobel (19 December 2024). "Taiba Akhuetie is the artist crafting couture from coiffure". Dazed. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- 1 2 Jalloh, Twiggy (20 October 2021). "This New Exhibition Reimagines Braids As Everyday Objects". British Vogue. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ White, Amelia (21 October 2021). "Taiba Taiba: "You can use Black models in a shoot but if the production is all white we have to question the reasons behind how and why we are used"". Perfect. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ Akhuetie, Taiba (1 November 2024). "Autumn Umbrella, 2024". TikTok. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- ↑ "Taiba Akhuetie: The Tone: Taiba's World of Hair". Sarabande Foundation. Retrieved 21 May 2026.