Napkin Sketch x Olalekan Jeyifous
Olalekan Jeyifous is a Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based artist and designer. In May of 2000, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Cornell University, where his focus of study was primarily on investigating the relevant potential for a variety of computer software within the fields of art, design and architecture. After graduating, he enjoyed a four-year tenure as a senior designer at the inimitable dbox before continuing on to pursue his creative compulsions full-time. Since then, he has exhibited his my artwork in venues throughout the world, as well as create architecturally-inspired visuals for a variety of amazing clients.
1. Beverage of choice?
A very smoky mezcal
2. What are you best known for?
My art, particularly the Coachella installation, Crown Ether. Also, New Lagos + Shanty Megastructure
3. How did we meet?
Day 3 of the Smithsonian NMAAHC symposium, Shifting the Landscape: Black Architects and Planners, 1968 to Now in September.
4. How did you get here?
Uber Pool.
5. What are you compensated to do (job)?
Create large scale public art + teach.
6. What do you like to do?
I do what I do. I enjoy the ideation of new narratives, development + successful execution of a piece. Daydreaming is my favorite thing, unless the execution matches the daydreaming; then that becomes my favorite part.
7. What is the best lesson you have taught someone?
To engage with contemporaries and consume without creating derivative work. Not to work in a vacuum. And that everyone can serve as a resource in some way, form or fashion.
8. Where do you go to find inspiration?
I walk up to Eastern Parkway every other night. It is the site for most of my daydreaming, either facing Utica Avenue or Brooklyn Museum with music in my ears.
9. Favorite city and why?
New York City! It’s all here. The proximity to so many things that I may want to partake in. There is no reason to leave this particular city if you want to change your life; you can make it big or make it small.
10. Fondest memory:
My brother + I driving around southern California + listening to music, back when I was in college.
11. What would you tell your younger self?
Live more in the present. I hated college + I hated high school. I was always looking forward, up until I got to New York nineteen years ago. I would encourage everyone to enjoy the process. I played myself by not living in the present.
12. Who mentored you and what did they teach you?
I have three mentors that I refer to as The Matriarchs: Amanda Williams, Hansy Better. and Nsenga Bansfield. They all mentored our generation of black architects at Cornell. Being three years ahead of me, they did so much for us and the other generations + they were there for us. They fixed the blind-spot that I previously had for feminism. I realize that it must have been three times harder for them to excel as black women.
13. Message in a show or film that resonated with you. What was the film, what was the message?
In the zeitgeist of getting involved: No Country for Old Men. The film shows that the things that are currently happening have always been happening + they are going to continue. Thinking you can change the world alone is pure vanity. Tasking a single generation to address decades of madness that has been coming to a head for ages is arrogant. We all need to get involved and sustain that engagement over time to impact change.
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