International Multi-disciplinary Artist

King Styles

"King Styles" is an ongoing series of evocative portraits showcasing Black men from diverse corners of the globe adorned in traditional African hairstyles. This collection serves as a profound documentation of self-love and a poignant celebration of cultural identity within the African diaspora. Each portrait encapsulates a narrative of resilience, defiance, and a profound embrace of features historically vilified due to the enduring legacy of slavery and colonization.

Throughout history, Black men have endured the erasure of their cultural identity, including the imposition of Eurocentric grooming standards that sought to dismantle connections to heritage. The forced adoption of European hairstyles during slavery and colonization aimed to suppress cultural expressions and enforce subservience. However, "King Styles" reclaims this narrative by amplifying the beauty and significance of traditional African hairstyles, which were once stigmatized and marginalized.

Through these portraits, a new narrative emerges—one of reverence for diversity, self-love, and an unapologetic celebration of Blackness, reshaping perceptions and empowering the global Black community to embrace and cherish their intrinsic cultural legacy.