Allison Janae Hamilton’s (b.1984; Lexington, Kentucky) fencing masks’s are embellished and adorned, often with natural materials such as reclaimed wood, feathers and animal hides. Hamilton became interested in fencing masks after finding a vintage photo of two African-American soldiers engaged in a fencing match. Embellishing these masks, Hamilton assigns the armor with a new mythic character. Indeed, the use of masks is recurring throughout Hamilton’s work. Her videos and photographs feature a recurring cast of masked protagonists, similarly fashioned from natural materials and animal remains. Hamilton’s use of masks reminds us of the object’s role as a disruptor of social identity as well as protective attire.