Hair Art
- Submitted by themarimakes
Yesterday I posted an appalling pile of hair art that still has me swallowing hard. Many of you were similarly terrified.
I can’t erase the past, but perhaps I can make this right by giving you something on the opposite end of the spectrum.
This is the work of artist Melanie Bilenker. She makes jewelry featuring tableaus of everyday, ordinary life. “I do not reproduce events,” she says, “but quiet minutes, the mundane, the domestic, the ordinary moments.”
These pieces are so beautiful in their simplicity.
And every delicate line you see is made with her own hair.
- See more hair here
July 8, 2011 at 5:54 pm
EXACTLY what modern hair art should be. Stunning!
July 8, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
July 8, 2011 at 7:22 pm
“why not just draw with a pencil or pen?” because that isn’t enough to make you stand out and be noticed anymore.
July 8, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Legitimacy as art aside, I’m not sure I’d want to own a human hair piece. The representations are lovely though.
July 9, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Ok, you can all thumbs down my comment into oblivion, too, if you want, but I don’t think you should. Villagerswithtorches didn’t say her art sucked or flame the board or anything. He/she just said what is totally a regretsy-worthy comment, IMO.
1. Hair art strikes many as gross (not me, personally, I love hair)
2. This line art could be created identically with, you know, stuff other people make lines with in art–pencil or pens. (I’m with the villagers on this one)
I think that part of the POINT there was that the only reason to work in hair is for attention grabbing based on a weird medium, which leficia feels is a plus, or what I think is a eyerolling conceptual artistry, and both turn me off as unnecessary pretension. I like her hair drawing thingies. I would like them equally well as pen drawings. Is it such a huge forum offense to have a different opinion of art that we have to thumbs down people into hiding like they compared her to Hitler or something?
July 9, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Maybe the artist just enjoys working with hair. Different mediums are fun for different people. I could paint a line on a canvas, but I’d rather embroider it. It’s the same line, but done in a way that is satisfying and fun for me.
I’m not saying hair is awesome, or that this isn’t done just for attention. It very well may be. But I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that this is just what she wanted to do.
July 9, 2011 at 6:55 pm
No, see, Regretsians only appreciate *snarky* negativity.
July 8, 2011 at 5:55 pm
No way is that hair! Those are amazing!
July 8, 2011 at 5:55 pm
This is way cool. A nice palate cleanser after the vomit inducing post yesterday.
July 8, 2011 at 6:17 pm
my thoughts exactly. This is awesome. I’m totally a fan now. Even if it was pencil or ink drawings, she’s damn good!
July 8, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Oh redemption, how you so oft do not belong here, and yet here you are, and it is a great relief.
Absolutely amazing art. Truly inspiring and impressive.
July 8, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Exactly the word I was going to use, jaiejohnson: stunning. These are so lovely. The breakfast tableau is amazing.
July 8, 2011 at 5:56 pm
AMAZEBALLS!
July 8, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Amazeballs slathered in awesomesauce!
July 8, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Holy fuck. Gorgeous and creepy.
July 8, 2011 at 5:57 pm
i have never been more gobsmacked, they are beautiful
July 8, 2011 at 5:57 pm
just beautiful!
July 8, 2011 at 5:57 pm
… I’m still kind of creeped out.
July 8, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I’m not going to thumbs-down you, because everyone has their own boundaries (esp. with stuff made from human parts), but you have to admit that if you didn’t know that was hair, you would think they were amazing.
July 8, 2011 at 6:54 pm
It’s true that these are amazing. Though the one of taking off a shirt just reminds me of all those times I got caught in my own shirt. Um, when I was a kid. Because I’m too coordinated for that now. Yes…
July 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm
My God, those are gorgeous. I want one. I am totally coveting the woman putting up her hair.
I would wear that with pride. I would give people the artist’s name and website if they asked me for it.
July 8, 2011 at 6:23 pm
As beautiful as it is, there’s a part of me that makes it a Rabbit hole experience in that it’s her putting up her hair, but it’s also her putting up her hair IN HER HAIR!
Pardon me while my head explodes trying to wrap itself around the implications…
July 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Hairception?
July 8, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
July 8, 2011 at 9:52 pm
‘Hare’ception maybe? Given the Rabbit hole nature?
July 9, 2011 at 12:56 am
I meant Hair CONception as in a Concept (as in conceived in hair), not a con as in thievery.
Joke Fail
July 9, 2011 at 12:14 pm
yo dawg i heard you like hair
July 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm
That’s my favorite too.
What is the hair set in? Resin? Guess I could follow the link…
July 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm
I never thought I’d look at human hair art and say “That’s not creepy at all.” These are actually really cool!
July 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Wow. That is real hair art, absolutely beautiful, the antithesis of yesterday’s creepy hippy tangle.
July 8, 2011 at 6:50 pm
One thing that makes these especially nice is the lack of dandruff…
July 8, 2011 at 6:55 pm
…and NAIL CLIPPINGS.
July 8, 2011 at 8:24 pm
And didn’t she also say she sprinkled the whole mess with salt?
July 8, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair art done RIGHT. Hair art can be beautiful!
July 8, 2011 at 6:00 pm
She might be goin’ bald soon seen’ as how we regretsy folk vehemently support artists with real talent.
I want one
July 8, 2011 at 8:27 pm
I want to hit the museums where these are on display. I’d love to see them up close.
July 8, 2011 at 6:01 pm
I never thought I would like hair art, but damn it, this is just too damn wonderful.
July 8, 2011 at 6:02 pm
You better believe I just stared at all of these while murmuring “No, that can’t be hair”, before looking closer.
July 8, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Absolutely gorgeous. Line drawings with such organic color. . . I wonder how she places and affixes each hair! Really, really beautiful.
July 8, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Apparently the hairs are embedded in resin. I imagine the placement must take ages.
July 8, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Absolutely stunning!
July 8, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I have a hard enough time sketching stuff with pencil and pen…no difficulty pulling my hair out… but this ..this..this can’t be done….I’d love to see a video of this artist at work.
July 8, 2011 at 6:05 pm
and when I say, this can’t be done, I mean…I am impressed and in awe…
July 8, 2011 at 7:10 pm
I understood that Nana, I feel the same way! Amazing!
July 8, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Love the ’80s era touchtone phone. The attention to detail is truly amazing. I soooo want to post something here about the use of the pubic palett but I just bring myself to do it….
July 8, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Holy… wow.
July 8, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Lovely and creative, but still gives me a flash of DO NOT WANT.
July 8, 2011 at 6:06 pm
These are jaw dropping amazing.
July 8, 2011 at 6:07 pm
It doesn’t matter what she uses to create these beautiful, quiet, and dignified pieces of art. They’re so lovely. She’s captured the moment between the seconds of life.
April, I’m now glad you posted that “thing” yesterday–if you didn’t need to cleanse your mental palatte, you might not have found this artist to share with us. Thank you!
July 8, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Mugsy, I thought Beary Creative made it clear yesterday that no one cares what you think.
July 8, 2011 at 6:19 pm
that is until you show us you’re Art.
July 8, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Thanks, NanaB, I appreciate the attempt, but I’m not Art. I’m just Mugsy Doodle. *sigh*
July 8, 2011 at 6:29 pm
I was wondering when I was going to be reminded of that. I was hoping no one would remember, but you must maintain the integrity of this site. Beary was correct. I’m a sad and lonely person with nothing better to do and I wish I could take back my inexperienced opinion of “art.” A blank comment would be more intelligent and informed. Thanks for letting me post my pathetic meaningless thoughts. I’m sorry. You all deserve so much better than me. Really.
*shuffle away, sniffling and whimpering*
p.s.
July 8, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Awwwww…
It’s the
that made the comment.
You’re art is made with words.
July 8, 2011 at 6:55 pm
You forgot the
. And the 
.
July 8, 2011 at 7:12 pm
more smiles please!
July 8, 2011 at 8:04 pm
From one fat loser to another, pass the Cheetos…
July 8, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Just for you, Mugsy Doodle:
BEARY GOOD! BEARY GOOD! YAAAAYY!
July 8, 2011 at 11:32 pm
F. Delsarte i forgot all about that psychotic woman until i read that. im having rage filled flashbacks thanks to you. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. “i have cerebral palsy hahahahahahahaha!” im going to go downstairs and eat ice cream from the carton now cause im such a jealous fat loser, thanks >< cake pops STAT
July 10, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Thank you, very, beary much to: @MsBitchHands, @Cindy-Loo Hoohoo, @Toomanycats, @Blackgermanshepherd, @F. Delsarte, and @Abbynormal!
You all made me giggle and you’re all Art, too!!
p.s. A tip to @Blackgermanshepherd: I learned a very important life lesson from Cheers and Norm–eat Cheeto-s with a spoon and you don’t get any radioactive-colored orange dust on your fingertips.
July 8, 2011 at 6:09 pm
If I’m reading her website correctly, she actually grinds up the hair as pigment to then paint onto the jewelry. Or maybe I’m twisting it in my head because I’m in awe that someone could place hair with such exactitude to create those pieces. Amazing.
July 8, 2011 at 6:13 pm
She uses hair for the drawing AND pigment, to tint the resin I believe!
July 8, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Thanks so much for reposting my comment about her! As a jeweler myself her work is incredibly inspiring and just stunning to look at. For those still skeeved – the hair’s all set in resin so it’s not even touchable!
http://themarifray.blogspot.com
July 8, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Oh my Jesus, these are gorgeous. I’m stunned.
July 8, 2011 at 6:13 pm
These are beautiful. And she’s lucky not to have hair like Steel Wool.
July 8, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I know right. if I worked with my hair I’d come out covered in hair and glue, totally defeated.
July 8, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Un-freakin’-believable! Now THAT’S an artist! Beautiful stuff, absolutely beautiful.
July 8, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Wow, These are simply beautiful! I did check out her website and I’m just amazed. Looking at the dimensions of some of the pieces (so small!), it must have taken such patience to place each piece of hair. Impressive!
July 8, 2011 at 6:17 pm
That’s just really fucking awesome.
July 8, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Ok, this is stunning. It makes up for a lot.
July 8, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Perfection. Stunningly beautiful, calm, wonderful life…
July 8, 2011 at 6:22 pm
But LOOK. This post is titled Hair of the Dog. Which is (wait, let me count) a triple entendre?
I love you.
July 8, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Fucking Brilliant!
July 8, 2011 at 6:24 pm
WOW! Just WOW!
I would never have guessed that was made with hair!
July 8, 2011 at 6:25 pm
I still couldn’t bring myself to wear one, but they really are amazing and pretty.
I did look at the locket and think “SEE? THAT’S where a lock of hair belongs!”
July 8, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Holy wow. I’m so jealous I lack her talent. I covet her.
July 8, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Reasons this is less disgusting than the doily, in ascending order;
1) Artist understands that pricing should be based on quality, supply and demand, rather than sentimental value.
2) Hair is sealed in where you’re not required to touch it or let it sit directly on your table.
3) It actually looks nice.
4) Absence of toenails.
July 8, 2011 at 11:10 pm
4) Absence of toenails for the win!
July 8, 2011 at 6:33 pm
I am in awe.
Thank you for renewing my faith in artists.
July 8, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Wow, and I thought I was the shit that one time I made a treble clef out of one of my hairs on the shower wall.
These are so beautiful.
July 8, 2011 at 6:38 pm
the hand with the flowers…I am in awe. I never thought I’d want something with someone else’s hair so badly.
July 8, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I’ve got 3-foot long hair; why have I never thought of crafting with the crap I pick up off my carpet? It would probably look better as art than wrapped around my toes…
July 8, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I think the doily from yesterday covered that fact…
July 8, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I’m especially fond of the kitchen one…
July 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm
I don’t think there’s anything creepy or disgusting at all about Melanie’s art. I think her work is awe-inspiring and beautiful in its minimalistic simplicity. To me the fact that it’s made of human hair simply doesn’t matter.
In her artist’s statement, Melanie refers to the Victorian practice of wearing locks of hair in jewelry and grinding up hair for paint pigments. I think her technique is different (see quote below). In that era, hair jewelry was considered romantic. I think Melanie’s work is both a tribute to and a reinvention of this practice.
From Melanie’s website (“Creation”):
“The Victorians kept lockets of hair and miniature portraits painted with ground hair and pigment to secure the memory of a lost love. In much the same way, I secure my memories through photographic images rendered in lines of my own hair, the physical remnants. I do not reproduce events, but quiet minutes, the mundane, the domestic, the ordinary moments.”
July 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Do you think I could get a hair artist to pay me for the use of my hair? Because I shed like crazy.
July 8, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I dunno, but if you find someone willing to pay, let me know. I’m wondering if maybe I can’t make a few bucks off the 15inch braid I lopped off a year ago.
July 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Holy shit that’s hair?
No, you’re fucking with me.
July 8, 2011 at 7:00 pm
My only complaint is that I really want the Clementine ring, and I suspect it’s no longer for sale.
Her work is amazing, and I don’t throw that word around lightly.
July 8, 2011 at 7:09 pm
That is completely fabulous. She is making genuine body art, which is exactly what that last post doesn’t. It IS kind of strange to see this level of art done with hair, but, unlike the fur-nail-puke-shit thing from yesterday, this does not make me instantly think of Nazis.
July 8, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Now that is, genuinely, art. And amazing. I can’t imagine the patience and skill needed to execute those.
July 8, 2011 at 7:30 pm
A-maz-ing. I take back the thing about etsy being crap, simply because of hair. I bow my head… thank you Miss Killer for clearing that horrific hair doily monstrosity out of my head and replacing it with this. I’ll be able to sleep 2 night. Sweet dreams, everyone!
July 8, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Someone said this was gorgeous and creepy, and I thought, “Yes, and so is life.” I guess that is kind of the point.
This is an unusual medium, but the art is clean and well-executed. I bow to the artist.
July 8, 2011 at 7:36 pm
i would like the one with the kitchen scene regardless, but i think the fact that it’s done with hair is quite a feat. all i ever do with my hair is stick it in a wad on the wall of the shower as it falls out, and maybe make it look like a spider or something. but then the next time i get into the shower, i scare the shit out of myself thinking there is a spider on the wall, so it doesnt work out well for me.
July 8, 2011 at 7:43 pm
That one made me think “There’s hair in your food… wait… the hair IS the food… wait…”
July 8, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Still odd to me, and nothing I would buy, but it is incredible. And thanks for using hair in a non-gross way!
July 8, 2011 at 7:40 pm
So so beautiful. Talk about dedication to your work, that would be so slow and painstaking to complete!
July 8, 2011 at 7:54 pm
If only I were a mammal and had hair. But alack, I am only a goddamn dinosaur and am stuck with making fascinators and other shit out of my keratinous skin outgrowths.
July 8, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I think I might like a dinosaur skin fascinator.
July 8, 2011 at 8:08 pm
If only she could embed a fingernail or perhaps a toenail…
July 8, 2011 at 8:13 pm
This is gorgeous. What I love about it isn’t just the wonderful way she integrates the hair into the artwork, but the nature of the art; the simple day to day business of getting dressed, fixing your hair, making a meal, talking on the phone. In contrast to so much of the complicated, fussy, over-done crap we’re used to seeing on Etsy, this is like a breath of fresh clean air.
July 8, 2011 at 8:43 pm
OK, for all of you squicked out by human hair – have none of you ever heard of a WIG? The good ones are made from real human hair, and not shitty looking itchy polyester.
And OMG it’s someone else’s hair that’s touching your skin!
July 8, 2011 at 8:57 pm
True, but to be fair the hair used in wigs is sanitized beforehand. Hair in hair art is almost definitely not. I’m not super grossed out by it myself, but I can understand why some would be.
July 9, 2011 at 2:40 pm
^ what they said. Also, though I suppose it’s not exactly the same thing, I wouldn’t be creeped out if I had to have a blood transfusion or a skin graft, but I wouldn’t wear someone else’s bodily stuffs by choice. (Yeah, a wig is wearing something by choice too, but… uh… this is my only defense, so THERE!)
July 8, 2011 at 8:53 pm
When I read the title of this post I said, loudly, “oh god not more hair!” and startled the dog. But these are exquisite.
July 8, 2011 at 9:02 pm
I really like the one of the woman putting on (taking off?) her bra.
I wonder if she does custom orders. I would like one entitled ‘Goodbye kiss’
July 8, 2011 at 9:03 pm
See, yesterdays, was absolutely disgusting. I’m not convinced that that (and the menstral blood art from today) aren’t the reason I’m sick now. (but probably not)
This? This is gorgeous. If I didn’t feel weird about hair art in general, I’d love to have one of these. Like this one since I’m going to be a baker some day.
July 8, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this, Helen. These are beautiful!
July 8, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
July 8, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Well that doesn’t make me want to hurl at all.
July 8, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Thank you for posting this. This is just.. It makes me really truly happy.
And now I really, truly want one.
July 8, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Gorgeous, and you would never know it was hair. As you said it is the simplicity of the piece that make them amazing. Love the locket.
July 9, 2011 at 2:56 am
If you’re good you’re good…
July 9, 2011 at 4:53 am
Very interesting.
July 9, 2011 at 7:18 am
I don’t mind hair art as long as there’s no menstrual blood and nail clippings added…some Victorian hair work is delicate and beautiful—but this tops anything I’ve seen. I love being pointed in the direction of odd and beautiful things, one of the reasons I love this site (besides the odd and spectacularly awful). Thank you.
July 9, 2011 at 7:58 am
Thanks. This post takes hair art from “appalling” to “appealing”.
July 9, 2011 at 10:30 am
Humans are strange, strange, strange creatures.
Hair from non-pet animals made into textiles = JUST GREAT
Hair from pets or our OWN species = GROSS!
Milk from other species drunk by non-infant humans = DELICIOUS! Give me another glass!
Milk from humans drunk by non-infant humans = EWWW! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
I have exactly the same gut reaction, but it makes me think and wonder why it is that way, because it is fucking weird.
But the hair doily was gross because it looked like DIRTY hair. This doesn’t. It’s sealed and carefully made and beautiful.
The menstrual art is just fucking unsanitary.
July 9, 2011 at 10:32 am
Also, I adore the subjects of these pieces. So unusual in art, so everyday, but so familiar and beautiful.
July 9, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Wow! So intricate. I might actually wear those.
And I am jealous of her gas stove.
July 10, 2011 at 3:35 am
I think it’s a lot better than the other piece that was posted in comparison, they definately contrast and make a person give two completely different opinions of using body parts. I was turn off by the other one and yet this makes me tilt my head in awe that the medium could actually be used to make something as beautiful as this. What makes this even more awesome is that I wouldn’t of guess that it was hair. I think it was cool to post something to counteract the other piece of work.
July 10, 2011 at 12:25 pm
This art is part of a very old tradition. Check out this gorgeous piece of lace from the 1600s:
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10701/band-of-lace/
July 10, 2011 at 3:12 pm
And here are some later (Victorian) pieces: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/locks-of-love-lost/#more-167401