Olaolu Slawn is a Nigerian-British artist and designer. The self-proclaimed “scam artist” has arguably become the buzziest new artist in town, after he designed the new Brit Awards Statuette. His art switches between street art and abstract expressionism while exploring important issues like politics, race, and identity.
This is the biography of the young Nigerian artist who has become a viral sensation in the United Kingdom.
Olaolu Slawn biography
Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, popularly known as Olaolu Slawn, was born on October 24, 2000, in Nigeria. He moved to London and enrolled at Middlesex University to study graphic design in 2019.
Olaolu Slawn career
Before moving to the UK, Slawn worked at Wafflesncream, Nigeria’s first skate shop. He met his friends, Leo and Onyedi, at the shop. Together, they founded the apparel brand, Motherlan, which is known for bold artworks, skates, films and slogans such as “Join the cult”.
“We just wanted to make stuff to get the money to buy the shit we needed to skate. It was just a means to make capital – but we sold so much stuff!” Slawn said in an interview with The Face. “It was always about freedom: the freedom to sell tees, to make money. The freedom to go get a hotel to f*** up.”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Slawn began to paint out of boredom.
“I think I was coming down, I felt s***,” he recalls. “I went to the art shop and bought a couple of canvases with my friend Petr. He helped me paint this bright yellow background that I did my first piece on. It felt straight.”
Although the painting started as being done for pleasure, Slawn turned the skill into a business by handing his artwork to people at parties and establishing a social media presence. In September 2021, he made a debut exhibition at Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. Over time, he was able to attract the patronage of reputable art collectors like Skepta, Angelo Baque, Tremaine Emory, Iris Law, Asap Rocky, and the late Virgil Abloh.
Some of his popular works include Cat and Frog (Diptchy), Blueboy (2021), Moses (2022), James (2022) and Self Portrait (2022).
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Olaolu Slawn exploits in diaspora
Slawn has emerged as a dynamic force in the art world, blending his Yoruba heritage with his experiences in the UK. He creates captivating works that resonate with audiences worldwide. At just 24 years, Slawn’s journey as an artist has already garnered attention for its depth, creativity, and cultural significance.
Slawn sells his art on Instagram. Sometimes, he invites people to turn up at a specific location unveiled on the day to complete a challenge in return for a piece. Speaking to The Face, Slawn recalled fighting to have possession of his pieces.
“It came about from two people being in my studio and I said to them: ‘If you don’t want to buy [a painting], then you can fight for it.’ And they were like: ‘F*** yeah, I’ll do that!’”
The good news is nobody goes home empty-handed. Also, Slawn claimed that some of his paintings even feature blood spilt in pursuit of his art.
In 2023, Slawn designed the statuette for the 2023 Brit Awards, becoming the youngest artist to do so. The awards, which were held on February 11, 2023, recognise the best in British and international music.
In addition, the “scam artist” was hired by the English Football Association (FA) to redesign the FA Cup trophy for 2024.
Olaolu Slawn’s net worth
Verified information about Slawn’s estimated net worth is unavailable for now.
Olaolu Slawn’s connection to Nigeria
Slawn was born to Nigerian parents of Yoruba origin.
Olaolu Slawn family
Slawn has a son with his girlfriend. He also opened BeauBeau’s Cafe, a family-run restaurant in East London, which he named after his son.
Olaolu Slawn age
Olaolu Slawn is currently 23 years old and will be 24 in 2024.
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