The Shape of A Dream Is Bigger Than A Frame (2026)
Ayomide Okanlawonâs (@phinnygram ) latest solo exhibition, âThe Shape of A Dream Is Bigger Than A Frame,â arrives in Lagos as a vivid reflection on contemporary Nigerian life.
Presented in collaboration with Lianna (@lianna_fg ) , the exhibition brings together new works alongside selected earlier images, tracing the evolution of Ayo's visual language through saturated colours, cinematic contrasts, and layered portraiture.
Moving between fashion image-making and visual storytelling, the work draws from the rhythm of Lagos while reflecting the broader influence of Nigerian and global pop culture.
Across the series, youth, style, intimacy, and imagination converge in frames that feel nostalgic, cinematic, and quietly surreal.
GLOBAL YOUTH ! the series
This series was born from a personal reflection on how local stories hold equal power within the global conversation.
Growing up from a small corner of the world, I continue to imagine how dreams formed locally can travel beyond borders.
With this new GLOBAL YOUTH making my second Series after BOND the series explores identity, aspiration, and meeting point between where we come from and where we hope to arrive.
I see this body of work evolving into a future solo presentation in the future .
From this small place â we dream. Amen.
From this small place . AMEN
Creative dir @phinnygram
Photography @ayomideokanlawon_
Talents @adika_jeffery@temi_idele
âI use every chance I get to trace my works back to home.â
Meet Ayomide Okanlawon. Born and raised in Ibadan before moving his practice to Lagos, the Nigerian Creative Director is proving that you donât need a massive budget to have a massive vision.
Ayomide doesnât wait for perfect conditions. He works with what he has, letting his intuition and a lifelong obsession with color lead the way. The result is a body of work that feels raw, intentional, and deeply personal.
From his recent solo exhibition to his goals for Paris and Tokyo, Ayomide shows us that the best way to reach the world is to stay anchored in where youâre from.
Swipe through to see his world.
@phinnygram@ayomideokanlawon_
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A big thank you to everyone who came out for the opening of THE SHAPE OF A DREAM IS BIGGER THAN A FRAME, a solo exhibition of photographs by Ayomide Okanlawon.
It was a really beautiful evening, but if you missed it, the exhibition is still ongoing till 17 May.
As part of the exhibitionâs programme, Lianna Foundation will be hosting a photo editing workshop facilitated by the artist, where he will be sharing techniques from his fashion and conceptual practice.
This will be an intimate session with limited slots, so do well to RSVP as soon as you can, if youâll be available.
đ Friday, May 15, 2026
â° 1:00pm
đ Lianna Foundation
Flat 13, 18 Cooper Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
đ Register via the link in our bio
#liannafoundation #ayomideokanlawon #contemporaryphotography #photographyworkshop #visualstorytelling
