In unexpected news, amika has teamed with Auttrianna Ward to put on an exhibition, Crowns in Bloom: Celebrating Hair in Contemporary Art. Rooted in amika’s “All Hair Is Welcome” philosophy, as the name suggests, the exhibition celebrates and explores hair as a powerful form of identity, memory, culture, and self-expression.
On view to the public from September 24 through October 9, 2026, Crowns in Bloom brings together an intergenerational group of contemporary artists across painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and film. Crowns in Bloom considers hair as material, metaphor, and cultural archive, exploring how it has been cut, braided, wrapped, sculpted, colored, and adorned across cultures and generations. Through four thematic pillars, Hair as Medium, Hair as Play, Hair as Landscape, and Hair as Ritual, the exhibition explores hair as an artistic language and its visual, symbolic, and creative possibilities.
Mickalene Thomas, Malick Sidibé, Torkwase Dyson, Deborah Willis, and Akinola Davies Jr are among the artists featured in the exhibition, representing a range of backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives. Their work demonstrates the many ways hair can function within contemporary art, from artists who engage hair as a physical medium to works that evoke its forms more abstractly.
“At amika, we’ve always believed that hair is a form of self-expression, and that creativity has no boundaries,” said Chelsea Riggs, CEO of amika. “Crowns in Bloom gives us an opportunity to explore that belief from a new perspective, bringing together artists who see hair not just as something we style, but as a material, a memory, a cultural marker, and a way of telling our stories. We’re excited to create a space where these different perspectives can come together and celebrate all that hair can represent.”
The exhibition also features work by Vernon François, renowned hairstylist and member of amika’s Stylist Circle. His participation brings the perspective of professional hair artistry into the broader artistic conversation, reflecting the ways hairstyling itself can be a form of creative expression and connecting the salon artistry at the foundation of amika with the contemporary artists represented throughout Crowns in Bloom.
“… All Hair Is Welcome is more than a promise. It’s our belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and free to express who they are,” said Gianne L. Doherty, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Impact at amika. “Crowns in Bloom brings that belief to life by giving artists a platform to explore the powerful role hair plays in how we see ourselves and connect with one another.”
Rather than defining what hair should be, Crowns in Bloom celebrates what it can become. Through the work of artists across generations and disciplines, the exhibition invites audiences to look again at something deeply familiar and discover the stories, traditions, identities, and creative possibilities held within it.
‘Crowns in Bloom’ Exhibition Details
- Curator: Auttrianna Ward
- Dates: September 24–October 9, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Location: 526 West 26th Street, Suite 207, New York, NY 10011
