In this body of work, Bukola Orioye employs the top fade hairstyle as a recurring visual lexicon through which he examines identity, cultural agency, and the aesthetics of self-fashioning. Rooted in the visual and historical traditions of Black culture, the top fade emerges not simply as a stylistic element but as a symbolic architecture of resilience, aspiration, and self-defined presence.
Across the series, Orioye positions the hairstyle as an anchor that bridges inherited traditions and contemporary expressions of individuality. By foregrounding this iconic silhouette, the works explore how Black communities continually negotiate visibility, pride, and creative autonomy. Topfade Signature ultimately frames the top fade as both cultural memory and living language; an enduring emblem that reflects the vibrancy, creativity, and evolving narratives of Black identity.
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