Sal Steiner

Sal Steiner is a San Francisco-based artist whose work celebrates the way hair twists, bends, curls, braids, and  weaves a wonderful world of magic. He finds ways to evolve in art and in life while weaving his dark side to dance with his creativity. A seeker of Truth and Love, Sal finds ways to play and test the bounds of life's constructs while nourishing a willingness to learn and be humbled.

In his current series "Interwoven: Headscapes," Sal uses his love of tiny lines to scribble out masterful depictions of hair. His admiration for Black hair has surfaced as his main focus, highlighting the ways in which people wear their hair for self-empowerment or as a statement. The absence of the person's face draws the viewer in to the fine details, while challenges you to look beyond. 

Artist Statement

I am like a magnet to hair, particularly African American hair. On the train, on the bus, at a show, at the park, I see the beautiful hairstyles that people create just to go about their daily lives and I am left in awe. My view traces the beautiful lines and twists as they move and take on a life of their own. Each hair I draw pulls me into a deeper meditation, a rhythmic trance that leaves me searching for the next detail. 

My first hair drawings were simple joys, appreciations of these works of art. Over time, this appreciation has coincided with the growing momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, and has challenged me to bring further awareness to Black beauty.

I am bringing the focus to someone else's crown.