Laetitia Ky's mesmerizing artistic creations use hair as a medium to address issues of race, sexism and social justice.

Why you should listen

A TED Idea Search winner based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Laetitia Ky uses her own hair to form (and photograph) extraordinary sculptures that speak to the contemporary human condition. Taking cues from the African tradition of women using hairstyles to communicate, Ky uses wires and thread to shape her hair, adapting elements of traditional Ivorian culture in her work.
A multi-talented artist with a business administration background, Ky also brings her skills to the worlds of music, writing, painting, acting and fashion design. Her book, Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty, was published in 2022.

Laetitia Ky’s TED talk

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Life, love and finding a path: Talks from day 2 of TEDWomen 2023

October 13, 2023

Day 2 of TEDWomen 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia featured an interdisciplinary array of ideas from speakers who are disrupting poverty, creating bold art, restoring Indigenous rights, exploring bioluminescence in nature and much more. The event: Sessions 2 and 3 of TEDWomen 2023, hosted by TEDWomen editorial director Pat Mitchell and activist, filmmaker and entrepreneur Maya […]

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