The Smithsonian invited three nail artists to design nail art sets inspired by the art, artifacts, and stories featured in our museums. In this nine-part video series, follow Ameya Okamoto, Santana Walker, and Celeste Hampton as they create nails rooted in their experience in Washington, D.C.
This project received support from the Digital Initiatives Pool Funds, administered by the Smithsonian Office of Digital Transformation.
Meet the Artists
Ameya Okamoto
Ameya Okamoto is a New York-based multidisciplinary artist and licensed nail technician whose practice spans concept-driven sculptural nail art, ceramics, and painting, often reflecting themes of Asian American identity and cultural heritage. Her work has been featured by outlets including ABC News Live and CBS News Chicago, with hashtags like #nailsbyameya amassing over 100M views on TikTok. She is preparing to open her first nail salon in 2025.
Santana Walker
Indigenous entrepreneur and aesthetic innovator Santana Walker (Squamish Nation) is dedicated to merging beauty with cultural heritage. Santana isthe owner of a full-service spa located on the Capilano Reserve in North Vancouver, where shespecializes in Indigenous nail art that celebrates her rich cultural roots,built on over 17 years of experience in the aesthetics beauty industry. She received theBC Aboriginal Business Award in 2014, was a featured guest on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's first talk show, and shared her entrepreneurial spirit as a contestant on Bear's Lair.As a devoted mother of four, Santana creates a nurturing environment for her family and her clients. She aims to inspire others and elevate Indigenous representation in beauty.
Celeste Hampton
Celeste Hampton is a celebrity nail artist and owner of Designs by Celestial Nails, LLC, located in Waldorf, Maryland, where she merges beauty, wellness, and self-care in her private one-on-one salon studio. Her artistry has graced the hands of so many notable clients like Teyana Taylor, Missy Elliot, and Brittany S. Hall, and she gained national attention as a contestant on Oxygen Network's first-ever nail competition, Nail’d It! Celeste's passion for wellness extends far beyond aesthetics. Influenced by a childhood that celebrated creativity and the strength of Black womanhood, Celeste channels those values into her work, offering elite services and organic products while also educating and mentoring other nail technicians on every level.
Explore the Smithsonian with Ameya
Explore the Smithsonian with Santana
Inspiration for Santana
Explore the Smithsonian with Celeste
Inspiration for Celeste
National Museum of African American History and Culture
African American Nail Art
For Black women, nail art is more than just a fashion statement. By embracing bold and complex nail designs, African American women assert their autonomy and challenge traditional beauty standards that often exclude them. Nail art has become a way to reclaim space and visibility.
