MoNA Exhibit No. RBB.25.08
NAIL’D IT:
THE STORY BEHIND THE SETS
Five muses. Fifty mini canvases.
A world of Radical Black Beauty.
Across MoNA’s debut exhibition, the details tell stories of women whose music, style & imagination helped define the ’99 & the 2000. Curated & creatively directed by Courtney-Grace Richardson, the exhibit features five works developed in collaboration with MoNA’s ‘25–’26 resident nail artist, Crystal Ebanks.
Each reinterprets the visual world of innovative Black female pop culture icons:
Mariah Carey, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah & Mary J. Blige.
Through sculpted polygel, hand-drawn iconography & intricate adornments,
each set takes shape: fingertip by fingertip.
Polygel sculpted nails, hand-drawn in long coffin
Collection of the Museum of Nail Art, 2025.083
Pastel daydreams.
Glitter high notes.
The diva is in the details.
Drawing from the colorful world of Mariah Carey’s 1999 album Rainbow, MoNA’s ALWAYS BE MY MANI turns pop whimsy into a study in miniature. The look gets the full diva treatment as (Shake It) Off-white tones meet playful charms, glitter (#iykyk) & soft gradient washes of color for a dreamy Y2K world.
Polygel sculpted nails, airbrushed
& hand-drawn in long coffin
Collection of the Museum of Nail Art, 2025.081
Notorious trendsetter.
Hard Core attitude.
Nothing ‘Lil’ about it.
NAILtorious K.I.M. brings rapper Lil’ Kim’s playfully provocative confidence into a set that feels like a poolside party. Airbrushed colors & blinged out details nod to the world of How Many Licks? while two platinum-finished nails salute her cult classic album, Hard Core.
We move between pastels & neons, capturing the edge & glamour that makes you bow down to the Queen Bee’s influence: all hail this ten-finger salute.
Polygel sculpted nails & hand-drawn in long coffin
Collection of the Museum of Nail Art, 2025.083
Mirrorball Shine. Always Ahead of Her Time. Supa Dupa Fly.
Dedicated to Missy Elliott’s creative genius, GET YOUR NAILS DID’s, reflective gems echo the silver sphere from The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), while graffiti lettering references the old school Hip Hop spirit of Gossip Folks.
This special set follows our muse’s appetite for experimentation, making space for Afrofuturism & larger-than-life ideas on the smallest of canvases.
Polygel sculpted nails, airbrushed
& hand-drawn in long coffin
Collection of the Museum of Nail Art, 2025.082
Midnight shimmer. Effortless edge. One in a million.
WE NAIL’D A RESOLUTION draws on Aaliyah’s balance of edge & elegance. Snakes, crosses & bedazzled textures bring varied dimension to a rich, shimmering palette.
The details reward attention without giving everything away at once. Together, they evoke the mystery, composure & quiet command that made Baby Girl’s style so distinctive.
Polygel sculpted nails,
airbrushed & hand-drawn in long coffin
Collection of the Museum of Nail Art, 2025.084
Soft lace. Unbreakable spirit.
All hail the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
With vibrant pink and delicate white lace bases, accompanied by various metal and glass adornments, this MoNA set embodies Mary J. Blige’s strength and softness in one. It’s a modern crown for royalty, worn at the fingertips.
Affixed with gold accents and framed against firm textures and chrome finishes, it pays tribute to the Queen of Hip Hop Soul’s resilience as a rose that grew from concrete.