Kinyozi-Yvette Smalls

Kinyozi is a folk artist who grew up in West Philadelphia. Her medium—hair sculpting, also know as braiding—is a cultural-communal craft in the African-American community, and an aesthetic enterprise with a host of emotional and psychological issues. She uses the form to examine and explore identity, upholding and reinforcing an African standard of beauty that helps contribute to a larger sense of self-worth. Kinyozi began her work in her home, transforming it into an informal meeting place, hub, and healing space. Currently, she teaches in community arts programs, libraries, museums, and schools. She produced a forty-minute award-winning documentary on her work, called Hair Stories, which gave her a platform to share her ideas and empower African-American women and girls. Kinyozi is the regional director of the National Braider's Guild, which challenges many of society's deep assumptions about beauty and about what constitutes art. By helping women see themselves in a positive light, braiding supports their and sense of belonging.