The British-Nigerian artist returns to his roots with a global initiative uniting creativity, culture and social impact, beginning in Nigeria. The Yinka Ilori Foundation champions joy and inclusivity, transforming everyday spaces into places of possibility worldwide.
British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE has announced the launch of the Yinka Ilori Foundation, a non-profit organisation devoted to transforming how communities around the world experience joy, creativity, and opportunity. Rooted in co-creation, inclusivity, and sustainability, the Foundation will establish permanent community spaces that empower young people, celebrate local identity, and promote long-term self-sufficiency.
“Growing up, play gave me freedom to dream. It allowed me to turn swings into spaceships and everyday places into worlds of possibility. That sense of imagination and joy is something my mother instilled in me, and it’s at the heart of why I launched the Yinka Ilori Foundation,” said Founder Yinka Ilori MBE. “I want to create spaces that aren’t just for communities, but with them. Spaces that empower, connect, and inspire. We’re starting in Nigeria, but this is just the beginning.”
Courtesy of Yinka Ilori Foundation
The Foundation’s first flagship site will open in Nigeria, marking the start of a global initiative that uses design as a catalyst for social change. Returning to his ancestral home, Ilori will unveil a permanent playscape co-created with local residents. The site will feature modular play structures built with the community, accompanied by a year of free cultural and skills-based programming. Workshops in music, craft, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and fabrication will run alongside training in maintenance and caretaking, ensuring each space remains sustainable and locally managed.
Inspired by Ilori’s distinctive visual language and shaped by his heritage, the Foundation extends his multidisciplinary practice, which spans architecture, sculpture, furniture, and interior design. Known for celebrating joy and storytelling, Ilori has long argued that art and design should be accessible to everyone. The Foundation seeks to carry this ethos forward—translating his vibrant aesthetic into inclusive, functional spaces that reflect the voices, skills, and aspirations of the communities they serve.
This mission arrives at a crucial time. Research from the University of Exeter shows that one in three UK children no longer play outdoors after school, despite strong evidence that outdoor play supports emotional wellbeing, social skills, and healthy relationships. The Yinka Ilori Foundation aims to reignite the power of play and creativity through dynamic, community-led environments.
Future sites will be developed across Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia, each tailored to its local context but united by the Foundation’s guiding principles. These hubs will combine physical design with cultural programming and economic opportunity, creating spaces that are both practical and inspiring.
Every project will be developed in collaboration with local organisations, artists, and educators, supported by long-term programming to ensure lasting impact and community stewardship.
The Yinka Ilori Foundation’s board of trustees includes:
- Wale Adeyemi, British fashion designer
- Ellen Port, founder of EKP Connections
- Péjú Oshin, curator, writer, and Associate Director at Gagosian
- Peter Adjaye, contemporary conceptual sound artist
June Sarpong, broadcaster, entrepreneur, and author, joins as Ambassador for the Foundation.
©2025 Yinka Ilori Foundation
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