Biography:Yinka Ilori

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Short description: British artist and designer

Yinka Ilori MBE (born 1987) is an artist and designer. His work includes architecture, interior design, graphic and textile design, sculpture, and furniture design.[1] It includes storytelling using design as a medium, while also referencing his British and Nigerian heritage. Ilori is known for the bold use of bright colours in his work and his playful designs[2] for furniture and public spaces.[1][3] The New York Times Style Magazine described him as "one of '12 Talents Shaping the Design World'",[4] and Abitare referred to him as belonging "to a more open-minded and inclusive generation that sees design as offering a possible response to social and environmental changes."[5]

Early life and education

Ilori grew up in a multicultural neighbourhood on Essex Road in Islington and attended St Jude and St Paul's Church of England Primary School.[6][7]

His father was a store manager for B&Q and his mother worked as an events caterer.[3][8][9] Ilori recalls the vibrant outfits worn by his parents' friends and family at house parties when he was little.[10][11] Visiting Nigeria as a child had an important impact on him and helped him better understand his family’s cultural heritage.[1][12][13]

Ilori studied art and design (with a focus on furniture and product design) at London Metropolitan University from 2006 to 2009.[1][3]

Career

The Colour Palace (Dulwich Pavilion) by Pricegore architects and Yinka Ilori
Blackfriars Road mural by Yinka Ilori

After completing his degree, Ilori worked as an intern with furniture designer Lee Broom.[3][12] His first solo work was supported by a £3,000 grant from The Prince’s Trust.[14][15] He began his professional practice in 2011, initially by upcycling second-hand furniture, and taking inspiration from the colour and design aesthetic of West African textiles.[16]

Ilori’s mixed cultural heritage is an influence in his work. The Nigerian parables his parents told him as a child have become a major source of inspiration for his designs.[3][12] In 2013, one such parable, "No matter how long the neck of a giraffe is, it still cannot see the future", led to a five-piece collection of chairs which Ilori transformed from broken and cast-off furniture into abstract, brightly coloured new works of art "to share a lesson from this childhood story — that we should not be judgemental".[1][17][18]

More recently, he has created installations such as Happy Street at Nine Elms,[19] The Colour Palace at Dulwich Picture Gallery, and Get Up Stand Up at Somerset House.[20]

Ilori founded his design studio in 2015.[12] The practice includes architects and designers for whom colour is a key interest.[3][14] As his team has expanded, Ilori has been able to take on larger-scale architectural and interior design projects.[14] His clients include Adidas, Kvadrat, Lego, Meta, Nike, Pepsi, SCP, the NHS Foundation Trust creating works for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Springfield University Hospital.[21][22][16][23][24][25][26][27][1]

In 2020 he launched an eponymous homeware brand[28] which manufactures and distributes his own products,[15][29] and he was also awarded the Emerging Design Medal by the London Design Festival.[30]

Ilori collaborated with British stage designer Es Devlin on the design of the Britannia statuettes for the 2021 Brit Awards.[31]

In 2022 Ilori designed a playground named The Flamboyance of Flamingos[32] in Parsloes Park, East London.[29] In the same year, the Design Museum in London staged an exhibition of his work featuring 100 of his projects as well as "Canary Wharf’s first ever basketball court."[33][34][35] His work has also been exhibited in museums such as the V&A Dundee,[36] Vitra Design Museum in Basel,[37] and the Guggenheim Bilbao,[38] and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York[39] as part of the Afrofuturist Period Room.[40]

Ilori is quoted in The Guardian as saying, “My work is very much about inclusivity and how people enjoy design.”[3] He lives and works in London,[14][41] and was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE)[42] in the 2021 New Year's Honours.[43]

Selected projects

  • 2019 Colour Palace, Dulwich Picture Gallery[44]
  • 2019 Happy Street, London Festival of Architecture and Wandsworth Council[45]
  • 2020 Colorama skate park, La Condition Publique cultural centre, Lille, France[46]
  • 2021 Laundrette of Dreams, Lego Collaboration[2]
  • 2021 Transparency in Shades of Colour[47]
  • 2021 Bring London Together[48]
  • 2021 The Sound of Movement, Labrum London,[49] Spring-Summer 2022 show[50]
  • 2021 Lick x Yinka Ilori Maximalist Brights, Wallpaper collection[51]
  • 2021 sonsbeek20→24 Sonsbeek, Arnhem[52]
  • 2021 Dodge, Somerset House[53]
  • 2023 From Greener Pastures, Labrum London, Autumn-Winter 2023 show[54]

Exhibitions

Solo

  • 2013 It Started With a Parable, Jaguar Shoes, London Design Week[55]
  • 2014 This is Where It Started, The Whitespace Gallery, Lagos[56]
  • 2015 If Chairs Could Talk, The Shop At Bluebird[57][58]
  • 2022 Yinka Ilori: Parables for Happiness, the Design Museum, London[59]

Group

  • 2014 Africa Calling, Africa Utopia, Southbank Centre, London[60]
  • 2015 Home Affairs, Now Gallery, London[61]
  • 2015 Making Africa, Vitra Design Museum, Basel. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao[38]
  • 2020 Knit!, Kvadrat, Copenhagen[62]

Publications

  • Pricegore & Yinka Ilori: Dulwich Pavilion. Dingle Price, Alex Gore, Job Floris, Sumayya Vally, Yinka Ilori Studio, Pricegore. Zurich. 2021. ISBN:3-03860-233-7. OCLC 1224160677.[63]
  • Reynolds, Jason (2018). For every one. London. ISBN:978-1-9996425-3-2. OCLC 1063638673.[64] (cover design by Yinka Ilori)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Burman, Sujata. "The British Nigerian designer making technicolor adult playgrounds" (in en). https://www.cnn.com/style/article/yinka-ilori-studio-design/index.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Lego Group unveils ‘Launderette of Dreams’, an installation by artist Yinka Ilori that celebrates how children use play to rebuild the world around them" (in en-gb). 2021-10-27. https://www.lego.com/en-gb/aboutus/news/2021/october/launderette-of-dreams. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Sunshine, Becky (2020-06-14). "‘Architecture and design should be for everyone’: Yinka Ilori’s colourful world" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jun/14/yinka-ilori-colourful-world-london-nigeria-public-spaces. 
  4. ↑ Sharma, Meara (2021-10-04). "The Artist Who Dreamed Up a Kaleidoscopic Basketball Court for London’s Canary Wharf" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/t-magazine/yinka-ilori-art-design.html. 
  5. ↑ Trombetta, Luca (2022-08-27). "Yinka Ilori, the power of colour" (in en-US). https://www.abitare.it/en/design-en/2022/08/27/yinka-ilori-the-power-of-colour/. 
  6. ↑ "Artist Yinka Ilori Visits SJSP!". https://www.stjudestpauls.co.uk/news/?pid=21&nid=2&storyid=153. 
  7. ↑ "My city life: Yinka Ilori" (in en-US). https://www.theroyalexchange.co.uk/my-city-life-yinka-ilori/. 
  8. ↑ Colquhoun, Joe (October 29, 2021). "Lego and artist Yinka Ilori partner to create the Launderette of Dreams". https://www.famouscampaigns.com/2021/10/lego-and-artist-yinka-ilori-partner-to-create-the-launderette-of-dreams/. 
  9. ↑ Aouf, Rima Sabina (2021-10-28). "Yinka Ilori builds colourful Lego launderette in East London" (in en). https://www.dezeen.com/2021/10/28/yinka-ilori-lego-launderette-of-dreams-east-london/. 
  10. ↑ Aron, Isabelle. "Artist Yinka Ilori on design shops and wild nights in Islington" (in en-GB). https://www.timeout.com/london/news/designer-yinka-ilori-on-growing-up-in-islington-071921. 
  11. ↑ Das, Jareh. "The Colorful Nostalgia of Yinka Ilori's Designs" (in en). https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2019/05/29/yinka-ilori. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Barrett, Helen (2020-04-03). "Yinka Ilori: ‘Why should I feel like I don’t belong?’". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/43b88468-6de0-11ea-89df-41bea055720b. 
  13. ↑ Tindall, Sofia (2021-05-12). "Artist Yinka Ilori on Finding Inspiration in Lockdown" (in en-GB). https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/interiors/yinka-ilori/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "About — Yinka Ilori" (in en). https://yinkailori.com/about. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Maitland, Hayley (2020-12-01). "Yinka Ilori’s Joyful Homewares Are the Colourful Boost Your Flat Needs This Winter" (in en-GB). https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/yinka-ilori-interview. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Connolly, Holly. "Interior Escapism: Yinka Ilori on Transforming Life Through Color" (in en-us). https://www.goat.com/editorial/yinka-ilori-london-designer-interview. 
  17. ↑ "Yinka Ilori’s New 20-Piece Homeware Collection Merges African and English Customs" (in en). https://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/yinka-ilori%E2%80%99s-new-20-piece-homeware-collection-merges-african-and-english. 
  18. ↑ Chutel, Lynsey (2017-03-09). "A British-Nigerian designer tells modern African parables with chairs you can’t sit on" (in en). https://qz.com/africa/928619/designer-yinka-ilori-uses-chairs-to-tell-the-stories-of-people-who-sit-in-them/. 
  19. ↑ "Happy Street" (in en-GB). 2019-07-16. https://architecturetoday.co.uk/happy-street/. 
  20. ↑ "Yinka Ilori, Types of Happiness, 2019" (in en). https://the-line.org/artist/yinka-ilori/. 
  21. ↑ "Yinka Ilori Studio Collection". https://www.scp.co.uk/collections/yinka-ilori-collection. 
  22. ↑ Williams, Megan (2019-08-08). "Premium water brand Arto LIFEWTR aims to give a canvas to artists" (in en-UK). https://www.creativereview.co.uk/arto-lifewtr/. 
  23. ↑ Harris, Gareth (2022-09-08). "Meta London unveils art commissions at vast King’s Cross office complex". https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/09/08/meta-london-unveil-art-commissions-at-vast-kings-cross-office-complex. 
  24. ↑ Cooper, Leonie. "The eye-popping Yinka Ilori x Lego collab is open from today" (in en-GB). https://www.timeout.com/london/news/yinka-iloris-lego-collab-opens-to-the-public-today-102821. 
  25. ↑ "Yinka Ilori | Knit! by Kvadrat" (in en). https://www.kvadrat.dk/en/knit-by-kvadrat/knit-designers/yinka-ilori. 
  26. ↑ Tromp, S. (n.d.) 'miadidas x Yinka Ilori I think sometimes it’s quite good to be niche', We Present, We Transfer.
  27. ↑ Dodds, Rosanna (2023-01-20). "Inside the spaces that care". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/a2b2d6a9-a113-4e0b-bb13-9b5914db3a04. 
  28. ↑ "Yinka Ilori Homeware". https://shop.yinkailori.com/. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Bertoli, Rosa (2022-09-15). "At home with Yinka Ilori" (in en). https://www.wallpaper.com/design/at-home-with-yinka-ilori. 
  30. ↑ "Yinka Ilori recognised for impact on design scene - London Metropolitan University". https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/articles/yinka-ilori-recognised-for-impact-on-design-scene/. 
  31. ↑ Bertoli, Rosa (2021-04-28). "Brit Awards 2021 winners to receive trophies by Yinka Ilori and Es Devlin" (in en). https://www.wallpaper.com/design/brit-awards-2021-trophy-design-es-devlin-yinka-ilori. 
  32. ↑ Buck, Louisa (2022-01-21). "Power to the people: London’s new public art gives a glimmer of hope in gloomy times". https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/01/21/power-to-the-people-londons-new-public-art-is-a-tonic-during-a-gloomy-year. 
  33. ↑ Tagliabue, Francesca (2023-01-11). "Yinka Ilori on show at the Design Museum in London" (in en-US). https://www.abitare.it/en/events/2023/01/11/yinka-ilori-on-show-at-the-design-museum-in-london/. 
  34. ↑ Adams, Shawn (2022-09-27). "The Design Museum celebrates Yinka Ilori’s world" (in en). https://www.wallpaper.com/design/yinka-ilori-design-museum-display-parables-happiness. 
  35. ↑ Galli, Antonella. "Design that unites: Yinka Ilori’s colourful metaphors | Floornature". https://www.floornature.com/design-trends/design-unites-yinka-ilorias-colourful-metaphors-17362/. 
  36. ↑ "V&A Dundee · Yinka Ilori: Listening to Joy" (in en). https://www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/exhibitions/yinka-ilori-listening-to-joy. 
  37. ↑ Treggiden, Katie (2021-02-16). "Yinka Ilori Turns Discarded Chairs into Sculptural Pieces with a Story" (in en). https://design-milk.com/yinka-ilori-turns-discarded-chairs-into-sculptural-pieces-with-a-story/. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Making Africa, a Continent of Contemporary Design". https://www.design-museum.de/en/exhibitions/detailpages/making-africa.html. 
  39. ↑ "Iya Ati Omo, Yinka Ilori, 2016". https://www3.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/849304. 
  40. ↑ "Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room" (in en). https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/afrofuturist-period-room/exhibition-objects. 
  41. ↑ Hashish, Amira (2022-01-28). "Yinka Ilori’s area guide, including a hot tip from Ed Sheeran" (in en). https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/where-to-live/living-in-acton-area-guide-yinka-ilori-ed-sheeran-b978767.html. 
  42. ↑ No. 63218. 31 December 2020. p. 20. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63218/supplement/20 
  43. ↑ Long, Molly (2021-01-04). "Yinka Ilori among designers and creatives named in New Year’s Honours 2021" (in en-UK). https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-january-2021/ny-honours-2021/. 
  44. ↑ "Dulwich Pavilion 2019: The Colour Palace | Dulwich Picture Gallery". https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2019/may/dulwich-pavilion-2019-the-colour-palace/. 
  45. ↑ "Superblue, Yinka Ilori" (in en-US). https://www.superblue.com/artists/yinka-ilori/. 
  46. ↑ Ravenscroft, Tom (2020-07-14). "Yinka Ilori creates "joy and excitement" with colourful skate park in Lille" (in en). https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/14/yinka-ilori-colorama-skate-park-la-condition-publique-lille/. 
  47. ↑ Thomas, Ben (2021-08-24). "Design London unveils talks programme" (in en-US). https://www.sleepermagazine.com/stories/events/design-london-unveils-talks-programme/. 
  48. ↑ Elengical, Jerry. "Yinka Ilori restyles London’s pedestrian crossings with vivid colours for LDF 2021" (in English). https://www.stirworld.com/see-news-yinka-ilori-restyles-london-s-pedestrian-crossings-with-vivid-colours-for-ldf-2021. 
  49. ↑ "ABOUT" (in en). https://labrumlondon.com/pages/about. 
  50. ↑ Willson, Tayler (2021-09-20). "Labrum’s SS22 Collection Sees British Styles Meet West African Accents". https://hypebeast.com/2021/9/labrum-london-ss22-london-fashion-week-runway-info. 
  51. ↑ Davidson, Laurie (2021-09-07). "Lick's new collection with award-winning artist Yinka Ilori embraces the biggest trend of the season" (in en). https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/lick-x-yinka-ilori-maximalist-brights-collection-286110. 
  52. ↑ Rakes, Rachael. "sonsbeek20→24, “force times distance: on labour and its sonic ecologies” — Criticism — e-flux" (in en). https://www.e-flux.com/criticism/409489/sonsbeek20-24-force-times-distance-on-labour-and-its-sonic-ecologies. 
  53. ↑ Wong, Henry (2021-07-05). "Yinka Ilori and Nick Ryan design “artful dodgems” for Somerset House" (in en-UK). https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/5-11-july-2021/dodge-yinka-ilori-somerset-house/. 
  54. ↑ Bromley, Joe (2023-02-20). "Labrum London’s peerless show lights up Brixton Village" (in en). https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/fashion/labrum-london-brixton-village-aw23-collection-b1061573.html. 
  55. ↑ "Yinka – It Started with a Parable « Jaguarshoes Collective" (in en-GB). 2013-08-15. http://www.jaguarshoes.com/yinka-it-started-with-a-parable/. 
  56. ↑ "Yinka Ilori in ‘This is where it started’ Lagos exhibition" (in en-US). 2014-09-14. https://www.thenicheng.com/yinka-ilori-in-this-is-where-it-started-lagos-exhibition/. 
  57. ↑ Williamson, Caroline (2015-09-18). "Installation Inspired by Nigerian Parables & Fabric" (in en). https://design-milk.com/upcycled-chairs-inspired-traditional-nigerian-parables-african-fabrics/. 
  58. ↑ Affolderbach, Annegret. "If chairs could talk: the stories of Yinka Ilori's furniture" (in en-ZA). https://www.wantedonline.co.za/art-design/2018-05-16-if-chairs-could-talk-the-stories-of-yinka-iloris-furniture/. 
  59. ↑ "Yinka Ilori: Parables for Happiness" (in en). https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/yinka-ilori-parables-for-happiness#. 
  60. ↑ "Africa Calling" (in en-GB). https://the-dots.com/projects/africa-calling-115221. 
  61. ↑ "Home Affairs". https://nowgallery.co.uk/exhibitions/home-affairs. 
  62. ↑ "Knit! by Kvadrat explores knitted textiles by Kvadrat Febrik at 3 days of design 2020" (in en). https://www.kvadrat.dk/en/knit-by-kvadrat. 
  63. ↑ Pricegore & Yinka Ilori: Dulwich Pavilion. Showing work by Pricegore and Yinka Ilori Studio.. Zurich: Park Books. 2021. ISBN 3-03860-233-7. OCLC 1224160677. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1224160677. 
  64. ↑ Reynolds, Jason (2018). For every one. London. ISBN 978-1-9996425-3-2. OCLC 1063638673. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1063638673. 

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