Braiding that left the body. It began with Autumn Umbrella, a found umbrella covered in synthetic hair. Then Rihanna commissioned a Louis Vuitton bag wrapped in braids, and Tems wore her hair dress to a Met Gala afterparty. The technique stayed the same, only the material changed. Braiding moved from the salon to the gallery.
Furniture is where her world shows itself best. A table with a marble top braided in circles and beaded braids hanging from its edge is named Don't Touch My Table. The question Black women hear all their lives, "Can I touch your hair?", follows the material right onto the table. Emotion travels with the hair. Braiding is a technique, a culture, and now a sculpture.
Lately she is moving into painting with Bloom and Fiery, canvases covered in hair. Hair belongs in galleries too, she says. The goal: to cover every wall, every corner, every ceiling, with nothing left bare. When an entire space is wrapped in braiding, will you be ready to step inside?
FAQ
Who is Taiba Akhuetie?
Taiba Akhuetie is a Hackney-based artist who creates furniture and sculptures using synthetic hair. She co-founded the braid salon KIŠSY in 2014, braiding hair for FKA twigs and Jorja Smith. After lockdown, she began attaching leftover hair to furniture and has collaborated with Rihanna and Tems.
What is 〈Don't Touch My Table〉?
〈Don't Touch My Table〉 is Taiba Akhuetie's signature furniture piece. It features a marble tabletop woven into circular braids with beaded braids hanging from the edges, addressing the question Black women face throughout their lives: "Can I touch your hair?" The work channels emotion through material.
Which celebrities has Taiba Akhuetie worked with?
Taiba Akhuetie has worked with Rihanna and Tems. Rihanna commissioned a braid-wrapped Louis Vuitton bag, and Tems wore her hair-covered dress to the Met Gala afterparty. Earlier, at braid salon KIŠSY, she braided hair for FKA twigs, Jorja Smith, and Burna Boy.
