ANN ARBOR — University of Michigan’s (U-M) Institute for Research on Women and Gender (IRWG) and the Women’s and Gender Studies Department (WGS), in collaboration with Michigan Medicine, are proud to present Lane Hall’s Winter Exhibit: Redefining the Crown. This portraiture series highlights the powerful stories of six Black breast cancer survivors and will be on display through August 8, 2025.
“Redefining the ‘crown’: Approaching chemotherapy‐induced alopecia among Black patients with breast cancer” began as a manuscript by U-M faculty Versha Pleasant M.D., MPH and Ava Purkiss Ph.D. published in the scientific journal Cancer. It later transformed into a photo essay project published in Medicine at Michigan, exploring the journeys of six Black women and their experiences with chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
This exhibition examines the cultural and personal significance of hair within Black communities, particularly through the lens of breast cancer treatment and recovery. The term “crown” is deeply symbolic in Black culture, signifying beauty, strength, and identity. The featured photo essay by photographer Tafari Stevenson-Howard captures the intimate journeys of Ann Chatman, Tanisha Kennedy, Felecia McDaniel, Shantell Elaine McCoy, Tamara Lynn Myles, and Veleria Banks.
Through their narratives and portraits, the exhibit invites audiences to witness their stories with radical empathy. It explores the cultural pride and personal identity intricately tied to their hair, and how these elements are redefined amidst their battles with breast cancer.
Located on the first floor of Lane Hall (204 S. State Street), the Exhibit Space is free and open to the public, M-F, 9am-4pm. For more information on the exhibits and upcoming events, please visit irwg.umich.edu/lanehall.
About the Lane Hall Exhibit Space:
The Institute for Research on Women and Gender (IRWG) and the Women’s and Gender Studies Department (WGS) host two exhibits per year in the main lobby of Lane Hall, 204 S. State Street. The exhibits, broadly related to issues of women and gender, are available for public viewing Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm (or by appointment for class visits).
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