Renowned British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori will lead A Handbook of the Chair Workshop with the Department of Design’s foundations students on November 6th and 7th. In this hands-on workshop, students will reclaim old chairs, transforming them with vibrant paint and creative design. The students' work will be displayed in a gallery exhibit in the Hayes Hall lobby, starting November 8th.

In addition to the workshop, Yinka Ilori will participate in a public event hosted by the Wexner Center for the Arts on November 6th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ohio State Design Department Chair Fabienne Munch will moderate a conversation with Ilori, offering insights into his design philosophy and artistic journey.

Yinka Ilori is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer whose distinctive visual language draws from his British-Nigerian heritage. His work weaves together Nigerian parables and verbal traditions, creating narratives that resonate with a global audience. Ilori believes that art and design should be accessible to all, and his projects—often humorous, provocative, and playful—show how design can unite communities and have a positive societal impact. Frequently reimagining urban spaces, Ilori invites participation and engagement, bringing a sense of joy and optimism to his work. A graduate of London Metropolitan University with a BA in Furniture and Product Design, his work has been exhibited worldwide through solo and group exhibitions, public commissions, and set designs.

Yinka Ilori’s visit is made possible through the Office of Academic Affairs’ Visiting Artist Program.