Sonya Clarke
b. 1967, United States
Madam CJ Walker and Me, 2013
Artist’s hair suspended in medium
25x18 inches
More often than not Clarke has used the hair belonging to other people in artworks where this is employed as a medium.
In this work, she quite literally ‘entangles’ herself with this long-admired African American figure, who is renowned for not only being one of the first women of colour to become a millionaire, but also to have established a company that sells and tailors hair products for African Americans.
Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove in December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919) is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America. Walker made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair-care products for black women.
In this work, she quite literally ‘entangles’ herself with this long-admired African American figure, who is renowned for not only being one of the first women of colour to become a millionaire, but also to have established a company that sells and tailors hair products for African Americans.
Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove in December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919) is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America. Walker made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair-care products for black women.