Olalekan Jeyifous, commonly known as Lek (pronounced Lake), is a Nigerian-born visual artist and architect based in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently a visiting lecturer at Cornell University, where he also earned his Bachelor of Architecture in 2000.
Jeyifous’ work bridges architecture, public art, and social commentary, often exploring Afrofuturism, urban inequality, and the Black diaspora experience. He was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition “Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America”, alongside Amanda Williams, Walter Hood, and Mario Gooden.
Art Career
- Jeyifous’ art practice spans large-scale public installations, murals, and 3D architectural models.
- His works explore urban issues, dystopian architecture, and the relationship between Black communities and changing cityscapes.
- In 2020, The New York Times named him among five artists to follow on Instagram, alongside Kara Walker and Phyllis Galembo.
Notable Works
Crown Ether (2017)
- Medium: 50-foot-tall sculpture
- Location: Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival
- Theme: Explores connection vs. separation between luxury high-rises and heritage-rich communities, using height to create shade and safety for viewers below.
Protest! (2017)
- Medium: 10-foot-tall public art installation of four orange and yellow steel silhouettes
- Location: Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio
- Theme: Celebrates the history of civic protests, rallies, and democratic rights; includes built-in seating platforms for community interaction.
The Boom and the Bust (2019)
- Medium: 25-foot-tall abstract high-rise sculpture
- Theme: References housing discrimination and urban inequality, featuring small red houses enclosed in a cage-like structure.
Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies (2020)
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia waterfront
- Theme: Highlights African-American history within the city’s industrial and mercantile legacy from the 17th to 20th centuries.
Our Destiny, Our Democracy (2020, upcoming)
- Collaboration: With Amanda Williams
- Purpose: Honors Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in the U.S. Congress, for She Built NYC initiative.
- Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn (Ocean and Parkside Avenues)
- Theme: Redefines 21st-century monuments, emphasizing unity and democracy.
Canyon Dreamscape (2021)
- Medium: Aluminum panel mural with vibrant color palette
- Location: Olive View–UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
- Theme: Inspired by Wilson Canyon landscapes, exploring the connection between nature and healing.
Awards and Fellowships
- 2020–2021 J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize – Exhibit Columbus
- 2021 Architecture & Design Fellow, United States Artists (with Jennifer Bonner and Walter Hood)
References and External Links
- Vigilism – Official Website(http://www.vigilism.com)
- Museum of Modern Art: Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America