Long, decorated nails have been a symbol of high social status for centuries: those who wear them do not have to work. More recently, nail art has become an expression of identity, resistance, and pride, particularly in Black and Latinx communities. Since the 1980s, nail design has evolved into a social statement: subtle designs are considered “bourgeois”, while flashy acrylic nails are often associated with the “lower class” or “cheapness” and viewed negatively.
Even today, the evaluation remains dependent on the wearer: while well-known personalities with eye-catching nails are celebrated on social media, the same aesthetic often still carries a stigma in everyday life. The perception of nail art is intersectional: class, gender, and racialization all influence how artificial nails are evaluated.
This object is currently on display in our temporary exhibition.
