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Tyler Clark is redefining what it means to bring art to life. The Chicago-based creator is known by her 90K+ Instagram followers for her stunning 3D artwork that incorporates real textured hair. Her work is so good that it's previously been shared (and purchased) by celebrities like Chance the Rapper and featured at high-profile events such as Miami's Art Basel.
Most of Clark's artwork is a love letter to Black women and the versatility of natural hair, and her pieces regularly feature portraits of Black women wearing a variety of hairstyles like box braids, Bantu knots, and locs. A former STEM major at both Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology, Clark got into painting and creating art as a way to relieve herself from the stress of her schoolwork.
"Art was therapeutic for me and I wanted my art to be unique," she told POPSUGAR. "I love hair and it was a great way for me to blend hair and painting."
Scrolling through her Instagram page, it's hard not to fall in love with her creations. Aside from them being relatable, they're another way for Black women to see themselves in another industry where they're largely underrepresented.
"It's important because it highlights the beauty in Black hair and it helps a lot with self-love."
"I think it's important because it highlights the beauty in Black hair and it helps a lot with self-love," she said. "It helps me to find beauty in my hair and whoever looks at my artwork can feel connected as well."
Clark's pieces usually take around one month to finish, and several of them are currently available to purchase on her official website with and without hair. Check them out ahead.