Women In The Heights: Hair Untangled Identity and Transformations
Explore the final chapter where hair acts as a catalyst for change. These artists challenge traditional masks and social control to celebrate the freedom of a new narrative.
Punks at the Easter Parade (2024) by Tamara WassermanNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The Women in the Heights series is an annual exhibition at NoMAA. Curated by Andrea Arroyo to address the underrepresentation of women in the art world, this 16th iteration showcases the diverse perspectives of women artists living or working in the Uptown NYC community.
Through unique themes, the series celebrates the intersection of heritage and gender. It provides a vital space for artists to engage with the public, fostering a dialogue that highlights Northern Manhattan’s cultural richness and empowers women to define their own narratives.
Pink at the Laundromat (2025) by Adaley MuñozNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The color of freedom
A radical change in appearance often marks the moment a person feels most beautiful. This vibrant shift serves as a declaration of self-definition and the joy of finally living without apology.
I Am Ivan (most of the time) (2013) by Arlene SchulmanNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The fluid identity
The mirror becomes a site of transition where one version of the self ends and another begins. The act of crowning oneself with a new persona is a ritual of transformation and ultimate agency.
Re-Thinking The Way I Feel About Myself III (2024) by Rafaela Gomez LunaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Dismantling the mask
This figures reflect the internal stress caused by traditional stereotypes. By removing the forced masks of conventionalism, we reveal a more honest, albeit complex, personal truth.
Punks at the Easter Parade (2024) by Tamara WassermanNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Citizens of resistance
Documenting the physical ways individuals respond to social policy, these images show hair and style as a form of visual protest. It is a testament to how we witness and resist the world around us.
Bodily autonomy
This work responds to the urgency around the autonomy of women’s bodies. It explores the tension between personal choice and the legal or social control imposed by institutions.
The Stop W.O.K.E. Act - The Bluest Eye (2022) by Diana SchmertzNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Erasure and education
By physically cutting legislation into literature, this piece highlights the censorship of diverse voices. It reflects the fight to maintain our stories in the face of restrictive educational bans.
Twist and Shout (2022) by Wilhelmina Grant-CooperNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Embracing the otherness
Using found materials to mirror natural hair textures, this sculpture advocates for the beauty of "otherness." It challenges society to see value in what was once ignored or discarded.
A Somber Cut (2024) by Alannah SearsNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Transgressing space
Contorted forms seek to break free from pre-defined social boundaries. These elongated figures represent the emotional landscape of those who refuse to conform to narrow expectations.
Raices (2025) by Adria QuinonesNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The human connection
Navigating the tensions between heritage, language, and gender, this narrative seeks a common ground. It is the quest to be seen not just through a label, but as a fully realized human being.
El Moño (2025) by Rafaelina TineoNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
A lifetime of growth
Incorporating hair collected over two decades, this assemblage is a physical record of time. It transforms a personal biological history into a permanent monument of the self.
Redefining beauty
The journey of "fixing" what was never broken ends with a powerful realization. True transformation occurs when we stop meeting external norms and start rewriting our own standards of belonging.
The Appointment (2025) by Jules KulayaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Breaking the stigma
What is viewed as strange or stigmatized is often just a reflection of societal bias. By examining these perceptions, we can begin to dismantle the norms that no longer serve our collective freedom.
Out of Darkness - American Library Association Bill of Rights (2023) by Diana SchmertzNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Foundations of rights
Merging the physical body with the language of civil rights, this work illuminates the darkness of censorship. It serves as a visual shield for the intellectual and personal freedoms we carry.
“Hair is an extension of our bodies, often associated with strength, beauty, sensuality, and personal identity. It has been admired, detested, desired, rejected, used, and abused throughout history. Literal and symbolic layers and extensions reveal tensions and intentions within culture and society. Hair—whether short, long, shaved, straight, curly, or anything in between—embodies identity in Frida Kahlo’s brows, military crops, spikes, braids, dreadlocks, and fros. Artists in the show examine societal and personal factors through various literal, metaphorical, and poetic expressions that explore the hairy, the scary, and the extraordinary in HAIR.” – Andrea Arroyo
From the weight of ancestral heritage to the intimate act of self-acceptance, this journey concludes with the radical power of transformation. These artists have shown that hair is more than just an extension of the body; it is a landscape of emotional and social rebellion.
Thank you for exploring Women In The Heights: Hair
Return to Part 1: Heritage | Return to Part 2: Acceptance
The artistic journey doesn’t end with this exhibition. To dive deeper into the vibrant creative ecosystem of Uptown NYC, visit the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance website. From the annual Uptown Arts Stroll to our technical labs and grant opportunities, our programming is designed to amplify the voices that define our neighborhood. Explore our full calendar of events and discover how you can support or participate in the local arts movement.
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