Photographer Amy Lombard teamed up with artist Sonya Meesh to make next-level toenail art.

Inspired by a community of women on the internet who sport long, decorative talons on their feet, photographer Amy Lombard made pimped-out toenails her obsession. The 27-year-old intrepid explorer of American subculture and VICE contributor—who's previously trained her lens on baby beauty pageants, sex parties, Juggalos, online/offline communities, Aaron Carter's entourage, and a clown motel—recently teamed up with artist Sonya Meesh and model Amanda Lanzone (who's previously contributed illustrations to VICE) to produce mesmerizing shots of acrylic toenails that are, in a word, long. Pedophobes should note Lombard's warning that the new series, titled Nails Pt. 2, is "certainly an acquired taste."

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The shoot pairs exaggerated fake nails with equally opulent backdrops to create a distinct character for each featured pedicure. Meesh decorated Lanzone's toe nails with rhinestones, faux fur, and flashy colors that, at a more normal length, would make for prime Instagram fodder. At several inches each, however, these phalanges would be a better fit for Ripley's Believe It or Not.

An answer might be gleaned from her confrontational description of Nails Pt. 2: "It's the opposite of what you think when it comes to aspirational lifestyle photography at large, which I fucking hate both as a consumer and photographer," she says. After all, six-inch fake toenails simply are not accessible to anyone who needs to, you know, walk—and Lombard sees the set as an opportunity for artists to elevate the medium to the level of avant-garde sculpture, without being drowned out by the consumer market. But that shouldn't stop anyone from trying to rock the acrylic cocktail fork toenail. "Understatement of the century," Lombard says, "it is a very bold look."

 hua.tien@msa.hinet.net

http://www.hwatien.com/en/