the crown & glory

Three young adults with dark skin and curly hair, resting their heads against each other with eyes closed, standing against a plain white background.

26 October - 11 December
At Pulse & Pickle
Blackhorse Workshop Cafe
1-2 Sutherland Road Path
London, E17 6BX
FREE Entry | Everyone welcome

Celebrating the Power, Pride & BEAUTY of Black Hair

The Crown & Glory is a bold visual storytelling project that explores the everyday beauty of Black hair. Centring the voices and experiences of Black individuals across generations, this exhibition captures the joy, resistance, and creativity that shape how we wear our crowns.

Through striking portraits, intimate conversations, and community-led workshops, The Crown & Glory creates space to reflect on how our hair shapes identity, sparks conversation, and challenges societal expectations; especially in workplaces and schools where it is too often policed.

Hosted at Plaistow Library throughout June and July, the project invites you to witness, connect with, and celebrate Black hair in all its forms; braided, wrapped, natural, loc’d, straightened, and everything in between.

This project is funded by London Borough of Newham

Meet the Team Behind the Project

Curated by Natalie Omari,
Photography by Tolu Elusade,
Hair Styling by Faith Melody,
Project Coordination by Jordan Abankwah,
Social Media & Project Assistance by Tunmise Williams.

MEET THE MODELS

We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who have lent their stories and presence to this exhibition:

Aaron Appiah-Anderson
Alex Onyejuba
Angela Reid
Be Manzini
Elisha
Ester Turri
Keiron
Patrice Atta-Peters

A smiling Black man with a beard and short afro hairstyle, wearing a striped sweater and a chain necklace, standing against a plain light-colored wall.
A smiling young girl with glasses and black hair styled in bantu knots with silver beads, wearing a dark hoodie.
Side profile of a man with braided hair and a mustache, wearing a black turtleneck shirt against a light-colored wall.
A woman with curly black hair smiling with her eyes closed, wearing a black sweater, with her hands on her head.
Woman with long curly hair wearing a red top and jewelry, smiling and looking to the side against a plain background.
A young African American man with short, curly hair smiling and wearing a khaki uniform against a plain light-colored background.
A woman with dark skin, styled in dreadlocks with gold accents, smiles at the camera, wearing a dark one-shoulder top.
Close-up of a young man with short, curly black hair, dark skin, bright smile showing teeth, and wearing a nose ring, standing against a plain light background.