Artist Laolu Senbanjo explores Pan-African pride in the age of 'Black Panther'

A native of Nigeria, which Senbanjo noted has more than 300 tribes, the artist identifies as Yoruba, one of the country's largest ethnic groups. But when Senbanjo first immigrated to New York in 2013, becoming black was part of his welcome.

"New York for me when I was growing up on TV was like,' Oh wow, I should just go to New York,'" he said. "And you get here and you have a rude shock of like, 'Wow, it's crazy' ... And I just, nobody has ever called me black before. That was something that was immediate, you know? I felt it."

Senbanjo's work features strong figures, lines, and symbols illustrated on everything from shoes and jackets to canvas and the skin of models. He also conducts an experimental art process he calls “The Sacred Art of Ori,” which involves one-on-one body painting and draws on Yoruba mythology and figures.

He has worked with brands including Nike, Equinox, and Kenneth Cole as well as celebrities including Alicia Keys, Taraji P. Henson, and Beyoncé.

 Source : nbcnews