Love and Justice

A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty

by Laetitia Ky

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Pub Date Apr 05 2022 | Archive Date May 31 2022

Princeton Architectural Press

Arts & Photography | Multicultural Interest

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Description

Laetitia Ky is a polyvalent artist, a one-of-a-kind creative voice, and a hugely popular Instagram and TikTok influencer with millions of followers. Ky uses her own hair (with the help of extensions, wool, wire, and thread) to craft and photograph unique and compelling sculptures. As a passionate advocate for social justice, Ky shines a light on the pressing issues of our time: sex-based and racial oppression, harmful beauty standards, shame and its corrosive effect on mental health, and more.

Love and Justice showcases 135 remarkable photographs interwoven with stories about Ky’s Ivory Coast childhood, her strong family ties, her embrace of her African roots, her own journey toward self-love, and her desire to lift up other women— especially Black women. Ky’s striking words and images honestly celebrate women’s sexuality and the female body and call for women’s empowerment—extending a generous invitation for us all to love ourselves and to work toward a more just world.

Laetitia Ky is a polyvalent artist, a one-of-a-kind creative voice, and a hugely popular Instagram and TikTok influencer with millions of followers. Ky uses her own hair (with the help of...

Advance Praise

"Ky frames her sculptural work within personal narratives that dig into issues of mental health, internalized misogyny, African heritage, sexism, self-care, Black beauty and other themes close to her heart. As a member of a new global guard of young creatives who refuse to separate their work from their beliefs and values, Ky is poised to become a strong role model for young people finding their way in the world." – BookPage

"A stunning collection of urgent, intimate essays paired with powerful, annotated photos of Ky wearing her hair sculptures, often in lush outdoor Ivorian settings. Seamlessly marrying style and substance, the sculptures and essays reveal the author’s journey of self-acceptance, raise awareness of a wide range of social issues, and celebrate African aesthetic and spiritual traditions....Come for the beautiful art as activism, stay for the deeply personal memoir and rich cultural history." – Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)