Some artists want their work to look perfect, for Slawn he just wants you to feel something. Before you even understand what you’re looking at, his art hits you first, loud, scribbled, a little chaotic, almost like it broke the rules on purpose. Faces look distorted. Lines feel rushed. Colours clash. But somehow, it all makes sense. It feels alive.
Olaolu Slawn, the Lagos-born, London-based creative has built a style that refuses to sit neatly inside one label. He’s not just an artist. Not just a designer. Not just streetwear or fine art. He moves between all of it like it’s one world, because for him, it is.
Growing up around Lagos’ skate and youth culture scene, Slawn was surrounded by raw creativity — the kind that doesn’t wait for permission or expensive tools. That DIY energy still shows in everything he makes. Even now, his work carries that same rough edge, like it could’ve been drawn with a marker five minutes ago.
When he moved to London, he didn’t polish it up to fit galleries. He didn’t “clean” it for the art world. He doubled down on being himself. That honesty opened doors fast.
Today, Slawn has collaborated with heavyweights like Louis Vuitton, Nike, Rolex, Dr. Martens, Supreme, and Ferrari — a mix that most artists could only dream of. He’s designed the BET Awards statuette, and even became the first artist ever to put artwork on a Formula 1 car.
From fashion houses to racetracks, his art keeps showing up in places you wouldn’t expect — and somehow still feels right at home. But what really makes Slawn stand out isn’t the résumé. It’s the attitude.
In a world obsessed with polish and perfection, he chose honesty. He kept the mess. The humour. The edge. And that choice made his work relatable, especially to young Africans and creatives who see themselves in that freedom. Nothing forced. Nothing fake. Just expression.
From Lagos to London, Slawn isn’t trying to fit into the culture. He’s shaping it. And the world is finally catching up.
