Yinka Ilori Brings Chairman Exhibition to London 2026
British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori showcases 10 years of chair design during Frieze London at Walter Sickert Community Centre from Oct 14-16, 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Yinka Ilori presents Chairman exhibition at Walter Sickert Community Centre
- The event runs from October 14th to 16th, 2026, during Frieze London
- Features a decade of chair-based work reflecting local community history
- Encourages visitors to interact and build personal memories with the pieces
British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori is bringing a decade of chair-based design work back to Islington in North London, where he grew up. Titled 'Chairman', the exhibition will take place at the Walter Sickert Community Centre from October 14th to 16th, 2026. The showcase coincides with Frieze London and UK Black History Month, returning a body of work shaped by the neighborhood's people, cultures, and everyday encounters directly to the community that inspired it.
Rather than treating chairs purely as functional items or collectible design pieces, Ilori utilizes them to investigate memory, identity, and the social bonds formed around familiar objects. The designer encourages active engagement with his creations, hoping visitors will look beyond viewing them from afar.
Yinka Ilori's 'Chairman' exhibition highlights the concept of democratic design by relocating art out of traditional white-cube galleries and into grassroots community spaces. Reclaiming and transforming overlooked furniture not only promotes sustainability through upcycling, but also re-establishes art as an accessible part of daily life that fosters community connection and personal storytelling.
‘I don’t want people to feel that they can only look at my work from a distance. I want them to get curious, spend some time with it and make their own memories around it,’ Ilori notes regarding public interaction.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The exhibition highlights several distinctive design approaches across the featured works:
- An early chair combining an original wooden frame with brightly patterned upholstery
- The 'Oba' pieces pairing a mid-century chair with patterned fabric and contrasting painted legs
- A restored armchair featuring glossy blue paint, patterned upholstery, and an integrated backrest hanger
- A sculptural chair combining a green frame with a textile-covered backrest
- Monochromatic green finishes paired with curved white detailing breathing new life into reclaimed chairs
Source: designboom
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