Yinka Ilori

Ilori in his studio with ‘Sun and Water can Live Together’ and ‘Ripples of Stillness’, courtesy artist, Cristea Roberts Gallery

Yinka Ilori (b. 1987, London) is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer whose bold visual language draws on his British-Nigerian heritage to convey new narratives through contemporary design. Drawing on Nigerian parables and verbal traditions, Ilori touches on a multitude of themes that resonate with a global audience.

Atelier JI’s first project with Ilori and Cristea Roberts Gallery, ‘Here Today, Here Tomorrow’, debuted at Frieze London 2023. The project, consisting of 6 screenprints using enamel inks, marked Ilori’s first foray into the medium.

Installations

‘Here Today, Here Tomorrow’ debuted at Cristea Roberts Gallery’s booth at Frieze London 2023.

“Each work draws from the artist’s rich Nigerian heritage and his belief that art and design should be accessible to all. Here Today, Here Tomorrow is a series of six prints, each in an edition of 30 and is Ilori’s first print project with Cristea Roberts Gallery.”

Here Today, Here Tomorrow, 2023 by Yinka Ilori installation view © Cristea Roberts Gallery, London. Photo: Mark Blower

Editions

Sometimes Things can be Simple
2023
75 x 75 cm
6 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

Crossing Between Time
2023
75 x 75 cm
7 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

Humbled By Your Sun Rays
2023
75 x 75 cm
7 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

Ripples of Stillness
2023
75 x 75 cm
4 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

Moments of Reflection
2023
75 x 75 cm
6 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

Sun and Water can Live Together
2023
75 x 75 cm
8 layer screen print on Somerset Tub-Size Satin 600gsm
Edition of 30
Published by Cristea Roberts Gallery

In the Studio

“Like most of Ilori’s works that are rich in storytelling, the themes of ‘Here Today, Here Tomorrow’ stem from Ilori’s memories of travelling to the coastal town of Margate as a young boy. Exploring what mindfulness looks like, Ilori captures joyous moments.

Evoking memories, both personal and collective, Ilori invites us to stop and stand still, providing us with a brief moment of meditation. Dynamic forms merge and interlock with each other, whilst colours flow to the surface edge, not bound by a border or a perimeter.”

Find out more at cristearoberts.com

All studio photography courtesy artist and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London. Photo: Darrell Tuffs