Ask anyone under the age of 25 who is the most culturally tuned in artist in the UK, they’ll probably yell out that it’s
@olaoluslawn . The Nigeria-born, London-based artist has, in a few years, done everything from model for
@louisvuitton to redesign the
@brits award.
When he’s not inviting Frank Ocean to his studio, bootlegging
@supremenewyork tees, or selling product for infamous graffiti artist 10Foot, he’s displaying work at
@saatchiyates , selling art at
@sothebys with
@skepta , and painting his recognisable style on a slew of objects (in 2024, he sold a customised
@ferrari 348). All this happened, despite the fact he only started painting during the 2020 pandemic, having worked at a skate shop.
With that in mind, Slawn is a self-proclaimed “scam” artist and he once told
@thefacemagazine that he wouldn’t buy his own work. His IG bio, too, states he’s “not an artist” and that he paints “like a 6 year old”. And yet, he’s a versatile figure whose reach extends across the fashion, art, music, sports and creative industries. He’s designed album artwork for the likes of
@21savage , collaborated with
@nike , produced a unique edition of the
@emiratesfacup trophy, and has worked with huge brands like
@burberry .
In 2023, he founded the community-centred
@beaubeauscafe with entrepreneur and partner Tallula Christie (
@prudentwaters ). Who – in among all the above – also have a couple of kids.
At SXSW London, the pair will speak on the panel ‘To Collaborate Is Not To Siphon’. Together, they’ll dive into creative partnerships and how they’ve built an ecosystem, rather than just an audience. We’re looking forward to seeing them speak.
📍 Protein Studios (Stage 1)
June 4, 2026, 3:10 - 3:45 PM
