About this Event
Crowning Glory: The Black British Beauty Salon is a one-day exhibition exploring the history, cultural significance and enduring legacy of Black hair salons in Britain. Through art, archival materials, historical artefacts and conversations, the exhibition traces the evolution of Black British hair culture from post-war Britain to the present day.
From the pioneering hairstylists and entrepreneurs who established spaces for Black beauty at a time when mainstream institutions often overlooked their needs, to the contemporary artists, businesses and communities shaping the industry today, Crowning Glory examines the beauty salon as far more than a commercial establishment. It is a space of creativity, cultural expression, economic independence, community building and belonging.
What to expect
The Exhibition | 12pm–6pm
Explore a curated selection of artworks, historical artefacts, photographs and archival materials that illuminate the cultural and social histories of Black British hair salons.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors will have access to two panel discussions bringing together creative voices, practitioners and cultural contributors.
Panel One: Black Hair Through Art and Visual Culture
How have artists represented Black hair, beauty and identity, and what can art reveal about our cultural histories?
This conversation will explore the relationship between Black hair and artistic expression, considering the role of photography, visual art and creative practice in documenting, celebrating and challenging the ways Black beauty has been represented.
Panel Two: Beyond the Salon — Third Spaces, Community and the Future of Black Hair
What happens when we consider the Black beauty salon as more than somewhere to get our hair done?
This discussion will examine the role of Black hair salons as vital community spaces, places of connection, cultural exchange and collective identity. It will also consider the contemporary challenges facing these spaces, from changing consumer habits and entrepreneurship to questions of ownership, accessibility and the preservation of community spaces for future generations.
Panel timings and speakers will be announced closer to the event.
Why Peckham Palms?
Crowning Glory is proudly hosted at Peckham Palms, a space that embodies many of the themes explored throughout the exhibition.
Home to Black hair and beauty businesses, salons and community spaces, Peckham Palms represents the importance of Black entrepreneurship, cultural identity and the preservation of spaces that serve their communities.
Hosting the exhibition here is central to its curatorial mission. Rather than presenting the history of Black British beauty salons in isolation, Crowning Glory situates these stories within a living, working environment where that history continues to be written.
Tickets and Becoming a Patron
Your exhibition ticket includes:
- Entry to Crowning Glory: The Black British Beauty Salon
- Access to both panel conversations
- Access to the lunch offer from The Flygerians next door (food purchased separately)
Support the Exhibition: Become a Patron
Crowning Glory has been made possible through the generous support of the Peckham Palms Microgrant.
As an independently curated cultural project, the exhibition also relies on the support of individuals who believe in the importance of documenting, celebrating and preserving Black British cultural histories.
When booking your ticket, you will have the option to make an additional Patron Contribution.
Your contribution will go towards supporting the artists and contributors who are generously sharing their work, expertise and time to make this exhibition possible.
As a thank you, all patrons will receive public acknowledgement during the exhibition and a credit in our post-exhibition documentary, which will extend the reach and legacy of Crowning Glory beyond the day itself.
We hope you leave with a deeper understanding of Black British cultural history, a renewed appreciation for the communities who shaped it, and new questions about the future we want to create.
Curated by Fashion Culture History (FCH).
Supported by the Peckham Palms Microgrant.
Event venue & nearby stays
Peckham Palms, 1-14 Bournemouth Close, London, United Kingdom
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