The Collectors: Yinka Ilori
The prolific British Nigerian creative first began rescuing discarded chairs as a first-year student at London Metropolitan University, and his collection now numbers more than 100 pieces
Chairs have always carried unusual significance for Yinka Ilori, the prolific British Nigerian creative whose parents taught him that every seat reflects the lives and values of its owner. That belief has blossomed into an enduring interest in the stories embedded within everyday furniture. As a first-year student at London Metropolitan University, he began rescuing discarded chairs and transforming them with exuberant colors, patterned textiles, and visual cues taken from Nigerian folklore. Those early experiments became the foundation of Ilori’s artistic practice and sparked the focus of Chairman (Oro Editions), his debut monograph. His collection now numbers more than 100 pieces; several have been acquired by major institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum. Next, he plans to curate an “Chairman: The Exhibition” (October 14–16) at Walter Sickert Community Centre during Frieze London that traces the narratives, relationships, and cultural references at the heart of each object.
Forming connections: “My tutor Jez Bradley saved all his money to buy the Victoria Ghost chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell. I could see the joy in his eyes when he told me about that chair; it seemed to give him a sense of power, hierarchy, and status. Those are the kind of examples I look for—ones with a deep history that can be uncovered.”
Guiding ethos: “What would be discarded furniture to one person is a canvas to me. I find the idea that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure really beautiful.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Late Fall Issue in the section “The Collectors.” Subscribe to the magazine.