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Revision as of 12:29, 20 February 2023

  • Comment: This discussion of the earlier article may be of interest to reviewers. (In brief, I don't understand why the earlier article was deleted.) Hoary (talk) 01:16, 14 February 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: The page reads like an official website of the individual, not a neutral article MarcGarver (talk) 10:09, 31 January 2023 (UTC)

Yinka Ilori MBE (born 1987) is an artist and designer who is active in the fields of architecture, interior design, graphic and textile design, sculpture, and furniture design.[1] His work reflects an interest in 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] Visiting Nigeria as a child had an important impact on him and helped him better understand his family’s cultural heritage.[1][11][12]

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][11] His first solo work was supported by a £3,000 grant from The Prince’s Trust.[13][14] 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.[15]

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][11] 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[16][17] 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]

More recently, his work has grown in scale to include designs and installations for exhibitions and city spaces, including Happy Street at Nine Elms,[18] The Colour Palace at Dulwich Picture Gallery, and Get Up Stand Up at Somerset House.[19]

Ilori founded his design studio in 2015.[11] The practice includes architects and designers for whom colour is a key interest.[3][13] As his team has expanded, Ilori has been able to take on larger-scale architectural and interior design projects.[13] His clients include Adidas,[20] the Brit Awards,[21] Kvadrat,[22] Lego,[23] Meta,[24] Nike,[15] Pepsi,[25] SCP,[26] the NHS Foundation Trust creating works for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital,[1] and Springfield University Hospital.[27]

In 2020 he launched an eponymous homeware brand[28] which manufactures and distributes his own products.[14][29] Ilori collaborated with British stage designer Es Devlin on the design of the Britannia statuettes for the 2021 Brit Awards.[21]

In 2022 Ilori designed a playground named The Flamboyance of Flamingos[30] 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."[31][32][33] His work has also been exhibited in museums such as the Vitra Design Museum in Basel,[34] and the Guggenheim Bilbao,[35] and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.[36]

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,[13][37] and was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE)[38] in the 2021 New Year's Honours.[39]

Selected projects

  • 2019 Colour Palace, Dulwich Picture Gallery[40]
  • 2019 Happy Street, London Festival of Architecture and Wandsworth Council[41]
  • 2020 Colorama skate park, La Condition Publique cultural centre, Lille, France[42]
  • 2021 Laundrette of Dreams, Lego Collaboration[2]
  • 2021 Transparency in Shades of Colour[43]
  • 2021 Bring London Together[44]
  • 2021 Labrum SS22, the Sound of Movement[45]
  • 2021 Lick x Yinka Ilori Maximalist Brights, Wallpaper collection[46]
  • 2021 sonsbeek20→24 Sonsbeek, Arnhem[47]
  • 2021 Dodge, Somerset House[48]

Exhibitions

Solo

  • 2013 It Started With a Parable, Jaguar Shoes, London Design Week[49]
  • 2014 This is Where It Started, The Whitespace Gallery, Lagos[50]
  • 2015 If Chairs Could Talk, The Shop At Bluebird[51][52]
  • 2022 Yinka Ilori: Parables for Happiness, the Design Museum, London[53]

Group

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.[57]
  • Reynolds, Jason (2018). For every one. London. ISBN 978-1-9996425-3-2. OCLC 1063638673.[58] (cover design by Yinka Ilori)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Burman, Sujata. "The British Nigerian designer making technicolor adult playgrounds". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  2. ^ a b "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". Lego. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sunshine, Becky (2020-06-14). "'Architecture and design should be for everyone': Yinka Ilori's colourful world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  4. ^ Sharma, Meara (2021-10-04). "The Artist Who Dreamed Up a Kaleidoscopic Basketball Court for London's Canary Wharf". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  5. ^ Trombetta, Luca (2022-08-27). "Yinka Ilori, the power of colour". Abitare. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  6. ^ "Artist Yinka Ilori Visits SJSP!". St Jude & St Paul’s. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  7. ^ "My city life: Yinka Ilori". The Royal Exchange. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  8. ^ Colquhoun, Joe (October 29, 2021). "Lego and artist Yinka Ilori partner to create the Launderette of Dreams". Famous Campaigns. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  9. ^ Aouf, Rima Sabina (2021-10-28). "Yinka Ilori builds colourful Lego launderette in East London". Dezeen. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  10. ^ Aron, Isabelle. "Artist Yinka Ilori on design shops and wild nights in Islington". Time Out London. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  11. ^ a b c d Barrett, Helen (2020-04-03). "Yinka Ilori: 'Why should I feel like I don't belong?'". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  12. ^ Tindall, Sofia (2021-05-12). "Artist Yinka Ilori on Finding Inspiration in Lockdown". Country and Town House. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  13. ^ a b c d "About — Yinka Ilori". Yinka Ilori Studio. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  14. ^ a b Maitland, Hayley (2020-12-01). "Yinka Ilori's Joyful Homewares Are the Colourful Boost Your Flat Needs This Winter". British Vogue. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  15. ^ a b Connolly, Holly. "Interior Escapism: Yinka Ilori on Transforming Life Through Color". GOAT. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  16. ^ "Yinka Ilori's New 20-Piece Homeware Collection Merges African and English Customs". Design Indaba. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  17. ^ Chutel, Lynsey (2017-03-09). "A British-Nigerian designer tells modern African parables with chairs you can't sit on". Quartz. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  18. ^ "Happy Street". Architecture Today. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  19. ^ "Yinka Ilori, Types of Happiness, 2019". The Line. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  20. ^ Tromp, S. (n.d.) 'miadidas x Yinka Ilori I think sometimes it’s quite good to be niche', We Present, We Transfer.
  21. ^ a b Bertoli, Rosa (2021-04-28). "Brit Awards 2021 winners to receive trophies by Yinka Ilori and Es Devlin". Wallpaper. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  22. ^ "Yinka Ilori | Knit! by Kvadrat". Kvadrat. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  23. ^ Cooper, Leonie. "The eye-popping Yinka Ilori x Lego collab is open from today". Time Out London. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  24. ^ Harris, Gareth (2022-09-08). "Meta London unveils art commissions at vast King's Cross office complex". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  25. ^ Williams, Megan (2019-08-08). "Premium water brand Arto LIFEWTR aims to give a canvas to artists". Creative Review. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  26. ^ "Yinka Ilori Studio Collection". SCP. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  27. ^ Dodds, Rosanna (2023-01-20). "Inside the spaces that care". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  28. ^ "Yinka Ilori Homeware". Yinka Ilori Store. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  29. ^ a b Bertoli, Rosa (2022-09-15). "At home with Yinka Ilori". Wallpaper. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  30. ^ Buck, Louisa (2022-01-21). "Power to the people: London's new public art gives a glimmer of hope in gloomy times". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  31. ^ Tagliabue, Francesca (2023-01-11). "Yinka Ilori on show at the Design Museum in London". Abitare. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  32. ^ Adams, Shawn (2022-09-27). "The Design Museum celebrates Yinka Ilori's world". Wallpaper. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  33. ^ Galli, Antonella. "Design that unites: Yinka Ilori's colourful metaphors | Floornature". Floornature. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  34. ^ Treggiden, Katie (2021-02-16). "Yinka Ilori Turns Discarded Chairs into Sculptural Pieces with a Story". Design Milk. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  35. ^ a b "Making Africa, a Continent of Contemporary Design". Vitra Design Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  36. ^ "Iya Ati Omo, Yinka Ilori, 2016". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  37. ^ Hashish, Amira (2022-01-28). "Yinka Ilori's area guide, including a hot tip from Ed Sheeran". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  38. ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. 20.
  39. ^ Long, Molly (2021-01-04). "Yinka Ilori among designers and creatives named in New Year's Honours 2021". Design Week. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  40. ^ "Dulwich Pavilion 2019: The Colour Palace | Dulwich Picture Gallery". Dulwich Picture Gallery. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  41. ^ "Superblue, Yinka Ilori". Superblue. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  42. ^ Ravenscroft, Tom (2020-07-14). "Yinka Ilori creates "joy and excitement" with colourful skate park in Lille". Dezeen. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  43. ^ Thomas, Ben (2021-08-24). "Design London unveils talks programme". Sleeper. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  44. ^ Elengical, Jerry. "Yinka Ilori restyles London’s pedestrian crossings with vivid colours for LDF 2021". Stir World. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  45. ^ Willson, Tayler (2021-09-20). "Labrum's SS22 Collection Sees British Styles Meet West African Accents". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  46. ^ Davidson, Laurie (2021-09-07). "Lick's new collection with award-winning artist Yinka Ilori embraces the biggest trend of the season". Ideal Home. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  47. ^ Rakes, Rachael. "sonsbeek20→24, "force times distance: on labour and its sonic ecologies" — Criticism — e-flux". www.e-flux.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  48. ^ Wong, Henry (2021-07-05). "Yinka Ilori and Nick Ryan design "artful dodgems" for Somerset House". Design Week. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  49. ^ "Yinka – It Started with a Parable « Jaguarshoes Collective". Jaguarshoes Collective. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  50. ^ "Yinka Ilori in 'This is where it started' Lagos exhibition". TheNiche. 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  51. ^ Williamson, Caroline (2015-09-18). "Installation Inspired by Nigerian Parables & Fabric". Design Milk. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  52. ^ Affolderbach, Annegret. "If chairs could talk: the stories of Yinka Ilori's furniture". Wanted Online. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  53. ^ "Yinka Ilori: Parables for Happiness". Design Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  54. ^ "Africa Calling". The Dots. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  55. ^ "Home Affairs". Now Gallery. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  56. ^ "Knit! by Kvadrat explores knitted textiles by Kvadrat Febrik at 3 days of design 2020". Kvadrat. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  57. ^ Floris, Job; Vally, Sumayya (2021). Price, Dingle; Gore, Alex (eds.). Pricegore & Yinka Ilori: Dulwich Pavilion. Showing work by Pricegore and Yinka Ilori Studio. Zurich: Park Books. ISBN 3-03860-233-7. OCLC 1224160677.
  58. ^ Reynolds, Jason (2018). For every one. London. ISBN 978-1-9996425-3-2. OCLC 1063638673.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yinka Ilori.


Category:Alumni of London Metropolitan University Category:Architects from London Category:BRIT Award trophy designers Category:Designers from London Category:English furniture designers Category:English graphic designers Category:English interior designers Category:English people of Nigerian descent Category:Living people Category:1987 births Category:People from Islington (district) Category:21st-century English architects

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