In a sunlit corner of his Brooklyn studio, Nigerian-born artist Láolú Senbanjo, known globally as Láolú NYC, unveils his latest masterpiece: The Sacred Art of the Ori Bust. A commanding sculpture alive with intricate black-and-white linework, the piece is both contemporary art object and cultural manifesto. Every curve etched into its surface is deliberate; every symbol whispers of ancestry, spirituality, and identity.
For the Yoruba people, the Ori literally “head” is far more than a physical feature. It is believed to be the seat of destiny, consciousness, and soul. In this new work, Láolú channels that philosophy into form, layering his signature “Sacred Art of the Ori” patterns across the bust as if to map an unseen spiritual topography. What emerges is a reminder that luxury lies not only in the material but also in the depth of meaning infused into every line.
Láolú’s path to becoming one of Africa’s most recognized contemporary artists is as powerful as his art. Born in Ilorin, Nigeria, he trained and practiced as a human rights lawyer for three years before answering a deeper call to creativity. His conviction has always been to help people express their truth whether through music, visual art, or performance. When he relocated to New York City, he carried with him not just his talent, but the rich spiritual and artistic legacy of Yoruba culture. His philosophy is simple yet profound: everything is my canvas. Walls, sneakers, paper, even the human body itself are surfaces where his art can live.
That vision has found a global audience. His work has appeared at the Grammy Museum, the Whitney Museum, and at Sotheby’s, where his pieces have drawn international collectors. His now-iconic collaboration with Beyoncé on Lemonade—painting his sacred motifs across her skin marked a turning point, cementing his role as a cultural bridge between Africa and the world. Since then, his art has adorned the bodies of Alicia Keys, Lupita Nyong’o, Taraji P. Henson, Swizz Beatz, and Danielle Brooks, and he has collaborated with brands like Nike, Equinox Fitness, Starbucks, Belvedere, and Bvlgari. His creative journey and philosophy have been spotlighted by global outlets including The New York Times, Vogue, Vice, CNN, and the BBC. In 2022, he shared his story on the TED stage, further extending the reach of his ideas.
With The Sacred Art of the Ori Bust, Láolú steps deeper into the dialogue between heritage and high art. The piece embodies his lifelong commitment to preserving Yoruba spirituality while pushing it into new forms and spaces. It is both deeply personal and universally resonant an object that transcends borders while staying rooted in identity.
At Be Africa Luxury, we see Laolu’s work as a powerful symbol of what African creativity represents today: authentic, uncompromising, and globally relevant. His journey from Nigeria to New York is not just about personal reinvention, but about creating a platform where Africa’s visual language becomes part of the global luxury conversation.
In the lines of the Ori Bust, we are reminded of a truth that guides our own mission: luxury is not only about what you can wear or own it is about the stories, the heritage, and the spirit they carry with them. And in Laolu’s hands, Africa’s story is drawn boldly across every surface, offering the world a new definition of what it means to be extraordinary.