The clashing, freshly painted surfaces of Yinka Ilori’s new studio in west London serve as a colour palette for his design team. “I’ll sometimes find them looking around to find tones to apply to projects,” says the British-Nigerian artist and designer. As you step into the space, there’s a strong powder blue on the wall to your left, a just-paler-than-bubblegum pink on the right, verdant green curtains hang from the high ceiling, and mustard yellow graces the floor.
The whole setup is playful: objects and artwork pop with pattern wherever you look. “I’m obsessed with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” says Ilori. “That immersive, dreamy, psychedelic-type space. When people walk in here, they lose their breath, they can’t focus. You step into a different world.” The vibe embodies Ilori’s heritage. “When I go to Nigeria and go to a market, there’s colour everywhere.”
