Art made with human hair from ‘the Louvre of hairwork’ comes to Brooklyn
The Morbid Anatomy Library has acquired dozens of unique pieces from the recently shuttered Leila’s Hair Museum in Missouri
From the Victorian era, people clipped locks of hair from loved ones to create commemorative hairwork objects. The Morbid Anatomy Library in Brooklyn, New York, is showcasing 50 such pieces on a long-term basis starting September 27. Many items have personal inscriptions and photos of the donors, who were toddlers, newlyweds, or grandparents.
Among the delicate creations are flowers, butterflies, crowns, and crosses made from hair in various hues. The hair was often combined with other materials like glitter, ribbons, feathers, and portraits of Christian saints. Initially amassed by Leila Cohoon at her hair museum in Missouri, the collection now resides at the Morbid Anatomy Library thanks to donations from Cohoon's granddaughter.
The founder and creative director of Morbid Anatomy, Joanna Ebenstein, aimed to create a microcosm of Cohoon's broad collection in Brooklyn, juxtaposing elaborate sculptures and simple hair jewelry. The installation aims to highlight the wide-reaching impact of hairwork in everyday life during the Victorian era.
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