Ellen Blair, Homemade Undercuts, (Focus Irlande) ©Ellen Blair
Ellen Blair (b. 1998, she/they) is one of the standout discoveries of the 2026 Circulation(s) festival. As part of the Irish spotlight, her project draws inspiration from her hometown of Belfast and community. Expressing identity through hairstyle becomes an act of self-assertion and resistance, particularly within queer circles.
The Homemade Undercuts series, created in an intimate settings, takes as its starting point undercut hairstyles done at home. It is a joyful and liberating response to societal norms and expectations, especially as traditional salons often remain unwelcoming and inaccessible to people outside the gender binary. Ellen sees her work as a decidedly political act and walks us through its significance, showing how queer people create inclusive and affirming environments despite societal barriers.
She aims not only to reflect her own journey but also to create a space where others can find connection, comfort, and collective integrity. Ellen answered my questions.
Ellen Blair, Homemade Undercuts, (Focus Irlande) ©Ellen Blair
What is the starting point of the project ?
Hair is perhaps the most accessible way to experiment with how we present ourselves to the world. Hair functions as a form of signaling, a way of expressing identity. For many trans individuals, it remains one of the most accessible means of aligning appearance with who they truly are.
This project therefore uses it as a motif to explore the search for an identity and powerful act of self-recognition.
What does the tittle suggest ?
Haircuts hold a prominent place within queer culture, a significance reflected in the project’s title. The notion of “homemade” points to DIY practices : creating, sharing, and supporting one another outside traditional structures. The work is grounded in domestic settings, where many of the images capture friends, lovers, and intimate relationships, highlighting the personal and communal dimensions of these spaces.
What does hair represent for you ?
Hair is one of the most immediate ways people present themselves to the world, often shaping how they feel in their own identity. Cutting one’s hair, especially in the privacy of home, can become a powerful act of self-recognition and comfort. In this sense, hair also functions as a form of signaling, a way of expressing identity. For many trans individuals, it remains one of the most accessible means of aligning appearance with who they truly are.
With gender-affirming care often involving waiting lists that stretch over several years, these everyday acts take on even greater significance. Within this context, sharing intimate moments of hair cutting becomes both meaningful and vulnerable. The process is not just physical but conversational – spaces where companions connect, talk, and support one another.
Ellen Blair, Homemade Undercuts, (Focus Irlande) ©Ellen Blair
How long did the project take to complete?
It took around two years, partly because I had to wait for people to actually need a haircut and feel confortable with my project.
Where did the project take place ?
The project mainly took place in Ireland, often in my own bathroom or in my friends’ bathrooms, which created a very intimate and personal setting. I also worked in Belfast and in Scotland, extending this domestic, community-based approach across different places.
Ellen Blair, Homemade Undercuts, (Focus Irlande) ©Ellen Blair
How did you react when you discovered you were selected for the Circulation(s) festival 2026 ?
It’s a real honor to be here—surrounded by such talented artists and working alongside the festival team. The curator was incredibly welcoming.
Did you already know the Irish photographers highlighted here?
I was already familiar with their work, although we had never met in person before. Ireland is a small country, so I had come across their work in exhibitions and in different contexts. It was really special to finally meet and spend time together, especially in such a beautiful city !
Where did you study photography ?
I studied photography in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh College of Art, which is where my connection to Scotland comes from. I lived there for three years, and that experience continues to inform my work.
Would you say your work is political ?
Yes, defently. I photograph what I see—what surrounds me and what holds personal meaning—so it felt essential to focus on members of my own community. Representation matters deeply to me; these are people who deserve to be seen, to be on walls, to be recognized. I find them genuinely beautiful, and there is something profoundly meaningful in the act of people caring for and supporting one another.
Practical Info :
Circulation(s) 16th edition
Irish spotlight
Until May, 17, 2026
CENTQUATRE
5 rue Curial, 75019 Paris
