Hip-Hop Beauty Show Comes To Houston
A photography exhibition documenting the industry's visual pioneers will open at Texas Southern University on November 12.
By Amina Howard ·
From 1973 to the present day, a new photography exhibition traces the visual history of hip-hop culture. The show, titled Hip Hop Beauty Circa 1973, will be on display at Texas Southern University in Houston from November 12 through November 20. The public opening is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST on the 12th.
The project is the final stop of a 2026 tour for its co-founders, Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks and Thembisa S. Mshaka. The exhibition is supported by presenting sponsors HelloBeautiful and Hip-Hop Wired. Other partners include Ashunta Sheriff Beauty, Mshaka Media, and Marc Harvey Beauty. Sheriff-Kendricks has worked with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim, and Alicia Keys. Mshaka’s professional background includes work in music, writing, and creative direction.
The collection features photographs of Erykah Badu, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Janelle Monáe. It also includes artwork by Keith Major, Stacy Gray, Mazi Smazi, and Traci Bartlow. Some of these pieces are available for purchase during the run of the show. The founders aim to place beauty professionals and image makers within the historical context of the music industry.
Dr. Michon Benson, an associate dean at Texas Southern University, commented on the visit. "Thembisa S. Mshaka and Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks are the kinds of real-world experts who will encourage and inspire our students," Benson said. The exhibition coincides with Entrepreneurship Week on the HBCU campus.
Sheriff-Kendricks previously told ESSENCE that "Our teenagers do not know the history." She explained that the project serves to pass that knowledge to a new generation. Mshaka described the work as "equal parts reclamation and recognition" in a prior interview with the same publication. The project’s website describes it as a platform connecting art, fashion, music, live experiences, and retail.
The Houston programming includes specific educational and commercial events. Master classes will take place on November 19. On November 20, the first Hip Hop Beauty Market will spotlight TSU student entrepreneurs. That event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST in the C.S. Lane Building.
The exhibition will conclude with a reception and panel discussion on the evening of November 20. That final event is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business.
