Meet Olaolu Slawn, Nigerian who designed new Brit Awards statuette

The Brit Awards 2023, which is the 43rd edition of the ceremony, presented by the British Phonographic Industry, will be held today, February 11, 2023.

The awards recognise the best in British and international music. The ceremony which will take place at The O2 Arena in London will be hosted by British comedian Mo Gilligan. 

This year Brit Award trophy was designed by Nigerian-born London-based artist, Oluola Slawn, and here are 10 things you need to know about Oluola Slawn

1. Slawn is a 20-year-old, who was born and grew up in Lagos. A Yoruba by the tribe.

2. Slawn is the first Nigerian-born, the youngest artist, to design the BRITs award.

 3. Slawn is a self-proclaimed ‘scam artist’ who made a name for himself designing skate wears in Lagos, Nigeria with high-profile fashion fans such as Virgil Abloh. He is a contemporary painter, skateboarder and artist in the UK. He is known for his unique graffiti artworks.

4. Shawn worked as a shop assistant at Wafflesncream, Nigeria’s first skate shop, before moving to London in 2018. He enrolled at Middlesex University to study graphic design in 2019 and started to paint during the first lockdown

5. Slawn hosted his debut exhibition at Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery in 2021 which caused a stir in the art scene. 

6. Slawn has his own fashion brand, Motherlan, with fellow skaters and friends, Leo and Onyedi, which has become known for its bold graphics, animated characters and slogans such as “join the cult”.

7. Slawn’s work is a vivid blend of cartoon characters and psychedelic shapes painted onto large-scale canvases using marker pens and aerosol cans.

8. Slawn releases his paintings via his Instagram Stories, where people can bid for them. Other times he invites people to turn up at a specific location unveiled on the day to complete a challenge in return for a piece.

9. The work of the London-based Nigerian artist Slawn switches between street art and abstract expressionism while exploring pertinent issues of politics, race, and identity

10. Collectors of Slawn Art include Skepta, Angelo Baque, Tremaine Emory, Iris Law, Asap Rocky, and the late Virgil Abloh. His artwork includes Moses, 2022, James, 2022, Self Portrait, 2022,  Cat and Frog (Diptchy), Blueboy, 2o21.