The Cut: Isaac Poleon Sculpts Avant-Garde Tresses, Making Art of Black Hair

The Cut: Isaac Poleon Sculpts Avant-Garde Tresses, Making Art of Black Hair AOC Fashion

‘Practise at Play’ is a new column debuting in the February 2022 issue of The Cut. The presentation exists as a showcase for emerging artists, imagined in the creative mind of Jessica Willis, style director at The Cut.

Practice at Play focuses on hair: Sculpting With Tresses: Hairstylist Issac Poleon’s avant-garde looks are more art than coif in its first feature with hair stylist Isaac Poleon.

Erica Smith writes the words with photographs by Campbell Addy [IG] of models Goy Manase and Nyibol Dok Jok./ Makeup by Bea Sweet; set designer by King Owusu

Campbell Addy's Smile-Worthy 'Over the Rainbow' Men's Fashion for WSJ Magazine

Campbell Addy's Smile-Worthy 'Over the Rainbow' Men's Fashion for WSJ Magazine AOC Fashion

Before seeing this gorgeous WSJ Magazine post online, Anne found herself in a state of exasperation and irritation on a business matter. Checking the credentials on an entirely different post sent by WSJ, It’s Time to Ditch All Your Neutrals and Embrace Rainbow Fashion, stopped her cold.

It’s no secret that AOC jumps through hoops for photographers of color — but for good reason. They have a visceral capacity to feel color in a way we find inspiring. Let’s just say that the world of fashion has been much happier and optimistic with the unleashing of Black creativity, in particular.

Ghanaian-British photographer Campbell Addy’s [IG] image above just erased any and all negative emotions at AOC, even though it’s a grey day on the East Coast. Clare Richardson styles the shoot called ‘Over the Rainbow’, with commentary by Jenny Hartman. Models include: Benyam Mehari, Jefferson Obuseri, Mensah Benjamin.

Stopping by Campbell Addy’s IG as we always do for the photographer — but also to track down the names of the models — we were touched deeply by his vulnerability. Anne was in a similar place in 2014.

Sunday [yesterday October 10] was World Mental Health Day 2021. Campbell Addy wrote:

When asked to create this shoot all I wanted to do was smile. I wanted to create images that would make me smile, because to be frank I had forgotten how to smile deeply and honestly. Those close to me understand my battle with mental health - and it’s a process. Today’s is mental health awareness day, and I would hope someone will look upon these images and feel love, hope and be able to smile. Life is a journey and can be tough at times but simply reaching out and saying hello can make the biggest change in a loved ones life. Thank you to my agents, friends, family and collaborators for putting up with me in my times of need. I’m still trying to smile deeply and honestly, it’s a journey but I’ll get there.

You succeeded in getting Anne to smile also, Campbell Addy — with these glorious images. To say nothing of the joyful jewelry being created in my studio with 80% of the ingredients coming out of Ghana.

Big thanks to you, Campbell Addy, and countless other Black creatives who are turning my own artistry inside out. That’s a big deal for a white lady of a certain age. Better now than never, I guess. Thanks for everything. LOL ~ Anne

Naomi Campbell Wears Kith for Calvin Klein Second Edition Lensed by Campbell Addy

Naomi Campbell Wears Kith for Calvin Klein Second Edition Lensed by Campbell Addy AOC Fashion

Supermodel Naomi Campbell rarified he air around the Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, posing for photographer Campbell Addy in key pieces from the Kith for Calvin Klein 2021 collection. The second edition of Kith for Calvin Klein launches Sept. 17 at all Kith locations.

Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy

Republish via AOC at FeedBurner CC 3.0 License Attribution Required: Daily Fashion Design Culture News

Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy AOC Fashion

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is revered worldwide. As she prepares to celebrate her 40th birthday on September 4, the star is ready to listen to her own inner voice.

During the years of making herself a star music talent, businesswoman, activist, Black cultural hero, philanthropist, mother to four-year-old twins Rumi and Sir and nine-year-old Blue Ivy, and wife to JAY-Z, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter learned the power of putting in the work. “Vision and intention weren’t enough; I had to put in the work,” Beyoncé explains in the September 2021 Harper’s Bazaar US cover story.

The September issue of Harper’s is the first time in a decade that Beyoncé has appeared on the cover of the magazine.

For the majority of her life, including her childhood, the mega-talent had not only ambition and a desire to create excellence in her life. Beyoncé had standards — the highest standards for herself. She explains:

If something wasn’t helping me reach my goal, I decided to invest no time in it. I didn’t feel like I had time to “kiki” or hang out. I sacrificed a lot of things and ran from any possible distraction. I felt as a young Black woman that I couldn’t mess up. I felt the pressure from the outside and their eyes watching for me to trip or fail. I couldn’t let my family down after all the sacrifices they made for me and the girls. That meant I was the most careful, professional teenager and I grew up fast. I wanted to break all of the stereotypes of the Black superstar, whether falling victim to drugs or alcohol or the absurd misconception that Black women were angry. I knew I was given this amazing opportunity and felt like I had one shot. I refused to mess it up, but I had to give up a lot.

Tiffany & Co jewelry is worn throughout the fashion story ‘The Once & Future Beyoncé.’ With her husband JAY-Z , the couple have been named new faces and ambassadors for the luxe jewelry brand. LVMH, Tiffany’s new owner, is now an equal owner with JAY-Z of his champagne brand Armand de Brignac, aka ‘Ace of Spades’.

Beyoncé’s narrative for Harper’s is illuminating and deeper than others we’ve read. She tells a wonderful story about agencies and “formulaic corporate companies” that’s truly wonderful. She’s always sought to surround herself with creative, innovative thinkers, but sometimes there’s just no escaping sterile, corporate thinking.

Like there was the time this agency told her that her audience didn’t like black and white photography. It had to be color. ‘And how do you know that,’ Beyoncé wondered to herself. ‘Market research’ was the answer, and the modern music icon wasn’t having it. She was beyond aggravated:

It pissed me off that an agency could dictate what my fans wanted based on a survey. Who did they ask? How is it possible to generalize people this much? Are these studies accurate? Are they fair? Are all the people I’m trying to uplift and shine a light on included? They’re not. It triggered me when I was told, “These studies show…” I was so exhausted and annoyed with these formulaic corporate companies that I based my whole next project off of black and white photography, including the videos for “Single Ladies” and “If I Were a Boy” and all of the artwork by Peter Lindbergh for I Am…Sasha Fierce, which ended up being my biggest commercial success to date. I try to keep the human feeling and spirit and emotion in my decision-making.

Naomi Campbell by Ethan James Green Covers Vogue US November 2020

Naomi Campbell by Ethan James Green Covers Vogue US November 2020

Vogue US honors supermodel Naomi Campbell, now 50 gorgeous years old and her flock of young models Adut Akech, Alton Mason, Anok Yai, Kaia Gerber and Ugbad Abdi in ‘Trailblazer, Mentor, Provocateur: How Naomi Campbell Changed Modeling Forever’.

Photographer Ethan James Green captures the Naomi Campbell cover story with backup from Campbell Addy and Ronan McKenzie. Carlos Nazario styles the shoot in fashion magnificence from Alaïa, Burberry, Christopher John Rogers, Dior Haute Couture, Loewe, Valentino Haute Couture, Versace, Victoria Beckham and more. / Makeup by Pat McGrath; hair by Jawara

See all the fashion credits at Vogue, coupled with Afua Kirsch’s interview, while we catch up with the South London Streatham-raised supermodel, who has just buried her grandmother at age 94. Naomi sits at a table surrounded by her mother Valerie Morris-Campbell, and aunts—Aunt Yvonne, who accompanied the young model on her first trip to Paris at age 16 and Aunt June, who escorted the young ingenue on her first trip to Milan.

Kendall Jenner As 'Trophy Wife' Stephanie Seymour for Garage Magazine #18

Kendall Jenner As 'Trophy Wife' Stephanie Seymour for Garage Magazine #18

Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan and British-Ghanian fashion photographer Campbell Addy collaborate on the new ‘Unhinged’ cover story of GARAGE Magazine 18. The artistry features supermodel Kendall Jenner as the 2020 muse channeling Cattelan’s famed work ‘Stephanie’ (2003).

The lifelike sculpture of American supermodel Stephanie Seymour, married to art collector and ‘Interview’ founder Peter Brandt, is frequently called ‘Trophy Wife’. In 2002, Cattelan dined at their ­estate in Greenwich, Conn, when Brant was looking to commission something from him. Surveying the library, studded with stuffed and mounted animals Brant had killed on safari, Maurizio Cattelan had an idea.

“Your real trophy, Peter,” he said, “is your wife.” Because the finished trophy — mounted to look like a dead gazelle — was made of wax, it couldn’t be hung over the fireplace without melting it. The piece was done in an edition of four: one for the buyer, one for the artist, one for the dealer, and one to be sold.