Laolu Senbanjo

Laolu (Olaolu) Isaac Senbanjo, also known as "Laolu NYC", is a Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter, and former human rights attorney.[1]

Laolu Senbanjo
Born
Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria
Known forThe Sacred Art of the Ori
Notable work
Beyonce's Visual Album, Lemonade
Websitehttp://www.laolu.nyc

Early life

Senbanjo was born and raised in Ilorin, Nigeria by Yoruba parents. His father was a lawyer, his mother was a nurse. He grew up performing in his church's choir. While in school he had a music group called Light and Fire which performed original songs and covers.[2][3]

Senbanjo studied law at Nigeria's University of Ilorin and, despite wanting to drop out during his second year of law school, received his degree in 2005.[4] He then worked as a human rights lawyer for five years, spending his final three years working at the National Human Rights Commission as a senior legal officer focusing on women and children's rights. Senbanjo travelled to different parts of Northern Nigeria visiting schools and villages to educate men and women about why children should be in school.[5][6][7][8][9]

"I knew if I pursued a career in the arts, I'd have to live with the fact that some people in my hometown might never talk to me again," said Senbanjo in an interview with 99U.[4] Despite this, in 2010 Senbanjo quit his job as a lawyer and started the Laolu Senbanjo Art Gallery in Abuja, Nigeria.

Senbanjo moved to Brooklyn, NY in August 2013 to pursue his art career.

Art

Senbanjo has coined his style of art, Afromysterics, meaning mystery of the African thought pattern. It incorporates African themes and African traditions. His uses charcoal and distinct patterns to create complex, story-rich art designs that draw heavily on his Yoruba heritage and feature ancient Nigerian symbols and patterns.[2][10] Senbanjo says his Nigerian roots are a major source for his visual inspiration. Though his visual references have been described as sharing "affinities with Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring".[11]

He has had commissions from, and formed partnerships with, celebrities and brand titans including Nike,[12] Beyoncé's album Lemonade, the Grammy Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution.[4] He has also partnered with Danielle Brooks (who plays Tasha Jefferson on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black). In June 2015, Senbanjo's new mantra became "everything is my canvas" and he began painting on everything from shoes, to jackets, to people.[13] He created the Sacred Art of the Ori Ritual,[14] which he describes and explains in a September 11, 2017, TED talk.[15][5][6][7][8][9][4][16][17]

Selected Exhibitions and Talks
  • December 2014: Three shows at Art Basel Miami.[18][19]
  • May 2016: His exhibit "Sounds of Africa" opens at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA in collaboration with BET.[20]
  • September 2016: Laolu performs " Creation as a Ritual: Performing Disguise", a live art installation[21] featuring three dancers and live musicians,[22] at the Brooklyn Museum.[23]

Art Appearances in Selected Music Videos

Senbanjo and his Sacred Art of the Ori Ritual has been featured in various music videos, including:

Brand Collaborations

Senbanjo has been invited to collaborate with several brands, including:

  • Nike invites Senbanjo to become a Master of Air and create a T-shirt and sneaker design for Nike Air Max 2016, for sneaker enthusiasts.[12]
  • October 2016: Shoe designer Kenneth Cole and Laolu collaborate on a #MyStepsWill advertising campaign.[26]
  • Forthcoming: Swizz Beatz & The Dean Collection[4]
  • BVLGARI Man in Black Essence limited edition Cologne bottle[27]

Music

Senbanjo is a world music artist who draws influences from Fela Kuti, Sade (singer), Bob Marley, and King Sunny Adé. His musical style is deeply rooted in the traditions of Afrobeat and High Life, mixed with Afro-Soul and Reggae. Senbanjo blends singing in his native Yoruba language and often translates Yoruba folks songs, proverbs and his oriki into English.[28][29][30]

Select Music Appearances

Selected Music Videos

See also

References
  1. "About Laolu-Laolu NYC". laolu.nyc. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  2. "News". Laolu.NYC. Archived from the original on 2017-12-03.
  3. "Tales of tomorrow: The talks of Session 10 of TED2017". 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017.
  4. Lara, Jacqueline (2016-12-01). "Laolu Senbanjo: How an unlikely Nigerian artist landed his designs in Beyoncé's album Lemonade". 99U by Behance. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  5. Edvige, Jean-Francois. "His art adorns Nike shoes and Beyoncé dancers". CNNMoney. Archived from the original on 2017-01-22.
  6. "The mysterious body painter behind Beyonce's 'Lemonade' - CNN Video". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  7. "Africa Live: Thursday 24 September 2015 - as it happened". 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  8. "Krief, artist Laolu Senbanjo, audiobook historian Matthew Rubery, mini food artist Jay Baro". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  9. "Nigerian Artist Laolu Senbanjo on Race and Community in Flatbush". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  10. "I Was a Struggling Immigrant Artist. Then Beyoncé Called". Cosmopolitan. 2017-12-11. Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  11. News, artnet (2016-04-27). "Meet The Body Artist Behind Beyoncé's Visual Album". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  12. "MASTER OF AIR LAOLU SENBANJO". nike.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  13. Best, Tamara (2016-11-30). "A Nigerian Artist Who Uses the Skin as His Canvas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  14. "Laolu Senbanjo - The Sacred Art of The Ori". youtube.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  15. "The Sacred Art of the Ori - Laolu Senbanjo". youtube.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  16. Akindele, Toni (27 April 2016). "Meet Laolu Senbanjo, the Nigerian Artist Behind the Body Art in Beyoncé's 'Lemonade'". Essence.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017.
  17. "Nigerian Visual Artist Laolu Senbanjo Talks Beyoncé's 'Lemonade'". OkayAfrica. 24 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017.
  18. Zuckerman, Alicia. "Trayvon Martin, Black Life Inspire Art Africa In Overtown". Archived from the original on 2018-01-04.
  19. "The 10 Best Events You Missed At Art Basel Miami 2017". Vibe. 2017-12-15. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  20. "Sounds Of Africa Presented by the GRAMMY Museum, in partnership with BET International". grammymuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  21. "Creation as Ritual: Performing Disguise Saturday, September 17, 2016". brooklynmuseum.org. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  22. "Creation as a ritual:performing in disguise by artist LaoLu at the Brooklyn museum". youtube.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  23. "Brooklyn Museum". Brooklyn Museum. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  24. "Black Coffee Enlists Laolu Senbanjo & Mque for His New Video for 'Come With Me' - OkayAfrica". 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017.
  25. Coscarelli, Joe (2016-04-23). "Beyoncé Releases Surprise Album 'Lemonade' After HBO Special". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  26. "#MyStepsWill build bridges. What will your steps do? - @Afromysterics". twitter.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  27. "Bulgari Man in Black Essence". bulgari.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  28. "Laolu & the Afromysterics". soundcloud.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  29. "Spotify". play.spotify.com. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  30. "Mama Africa - Single by Laolu NYC on Apple Music". iTunes. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  31. "Laolu Senbanjo - SXSW 2015 Event Schedule". schedule.sxsw.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
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