Written by Dumebi Favour Ezekeke
Ayomide Okanlawan is a creative director and visual artist from Osun State, now based in Ibadan, Nigeria. His work lives at the intersection of colour, contrast, and emotion. A distinct style which he describes as being shaped by instinct long before he found the words to describe it.
“I love colors and I love contrast. They really define my work,” he says. “My love for color started since I was a child and it grew up in me.”
That early attraction to colour evolved into something more intentional. A form of curiosity that later morphed into his way of processing the world around him. Eventually laying the foundation for his creative expression and storytelling.
“Curiosity and love of wanting to express how I feel from inside led me to creative direction,” he explains. “Since then I started to make short films, images and series that talk about how I feel, things that I grew up with in the community or things that I just always wanted to address.”
Where Fashion Meets Feeling
Ayomide’s work moves fluidly between fashion, culture, and storytelling, but what defines it most is the way he brings unlikely elements together. There is a deliberate tension in his compositions, a quiet rebellion against what is expected.
“I love putting elements and stuff that are not usually meant to meet,” he says. “I love to invite the audience to give it their own meaning most times.”
Rather than offering fixed interpretations, his work creates space. It asks the viewer to sit with it, to question, and to find their own connection within it.
The Discipline of Time and Process
Ayomide describes creating as an act of patience, not speed. For him, creating is all about allowing ideas to fully take shape.
“In order to build a thought, be more resilient,” he says. “Just make sure you give some of your project time. You don’t have to rush everything.”
Each project carries emotional weight, shaped not only by visual choices but by the story behind it. This approach allows his work to feel layered, intentional, and deeply personal.
Telling Our Stories, Our Way
At the core of Ayomide’s practice is a clear vision for Nigerian and African creativity. It is a vision rooted in ownership and authenticity.
“The vision for Nigerian Creative is telling our own stories with our own voice,” he says. “Because if we don’t, someone else will.”
In a global landscape where African narratives are often interpreted from the outside, his stance feels both necessary and urgent. For him, storytelling is not just art. It is responsibility.
Lineage, Influence, and Inspiration
Ayomide’s inspirations reflect a blend of African and global creative voices who have redefined visual storytelling in their own ways.
“The people, Gabriel Moses, Samuel Fosso, Prince Gyasi of Ghana, Virgil Abloh,”. He also gives a special appreciation to Virgil Abloh. “Thank you for inspiring the new generation”. He says. To him, these influences are not just references but part of a larger lineage he sees himself contributing to.
Returning to Self
In an industry that often demands constant output, Ayomide finds grounding in stillness. His process includes stepping back, reflecting, and reconnecting with his original purpose.
“I reflect, write and take time to remind myself why I started in the first place,” he says. “I think it helps me refresh my energy, even though things might not be looking so smooth. It just re-energized me.”
This practice allows him to sustain both clarity and direction, even in uncertain moments.
Holding the Vision
As he continues to build and evolve, Ayomide holds on to a belief that feels central to his journey.
“Only you can see your vision,” he says. “Just keep doing it. The world will catch up soon.”
It is a quiet kind of confidence. One that does not rush recognition, but trusts in the process of becoming.
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