Ava Neal

Lives and works in Atlanta, GA

Artist statement

My hair - my canvas, my medium, my art. By Kwiin Ava (pronounced Queen Ava). Natural-Hair Sculptress ~ The Puff Series I transform my natural afro hair into three-dimensional works that defy expectations of what afro hair can be. From dolphins and birds, to thunderstorms and desserts, I turn imagination into physical form, exploring the boundaries between sculpture, the human body, and visual storytelling. My practice extends beyond the hair attached to my head. I collect my naturally shed hair and transform it into both independent and attached sculptures, giving discarded strands new life as intricate objects. Through photography, I bring these creations into carefully constructed worlds where color, movement, fashion, and composition become part of the artwork. At the heart of my practice is transformation: turning the familiar into the extraordinary, the overlooked into the unexpected, and a deeply personal material into something that invites curiosity and wonder. Natural afro hair carries history, identity, and cultural significance, but I am equally interested in its limitless physical possibilities. I approach it with the freedom to experiment, challenge conventions, and create without boundaries. I don't simply sculpt hair into recognizable forms. I use hair to build a world where imagination becomes tangible and the human body becomes a living gallery.

Artwork