Merryn Omotayo Alaka and Sam Frésquez

Merryn Omotayo Alaka (b. 1997, Indianapolis, IN) and Sam Frésquez (b. 1996 in Mesa, AZ) met while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Arizona State University. They began their collaborative project, Hairland, in 2017, with many shared interests, including science fiction, fables, lies, and patternmaking. Their work has been exhibited at institutions such as the Tucson Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, Phoenix Art Museum, and Arizona State University Art Museum. In 2022, they were awarded the Lehman Emerging Artist Award at the Phoenix Art Museum. In 2025, both graduated with MFAs: Frésquez earned a degree in Sculpture from Yale School of Art, and Omotayo Alaka earned a degree in Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They currently live and work in Chicago, IL.