Nifemi Marcus-Bello
Book Launch in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Nifemi Marcus-Bello’s debut monograph, Oríkì: Material Affirmations in Three Acts, made its Amsterdam debut this month at Athenaeum, marked by a book signing and a conversation with the artist moderated by Claudio Ritfeld. Opening the book to our Amsterdam community felt especially meaningful: a chance to share a publication that reflects not only the Lagos-based artist’s practice, but also his family history and the enduring importance of home.
Intimate in scope, the monograph takes its name from the Yoruba tradition of praise poetry and includes Nifemi’s own personal oríkì, composed by his mother, Folake Marcus-Bello, alongside a personal essay tracing his artistic development from childhood to the present.
The book spans his three-part sculptural Oríkì series—Act I: Friction Ridge, Act II: Tales by Moonlight, and Act III: Whispers of a Trail—each centred on a different material: bronze, aluminium, and copper. It features a foreword by Eames Demetrios, essays by Irene Sunwoo, Glenn Adamson, and Rita Ouédraogo, one accompanying each act, and an exclusive interview with Camille Okhio.
‘This is good design: whether inspired by the guidance of praise chants or wisdom from past designers, human stories inform Nifemi’s work—ever present until they step back, allowing each design to speak for itself’, writes Eames Demetrios in his introduction.
Scroll down to browse moments from the event, get your copy of Oríkì: Material Affirmations in Three Acts, and read our feature on Nifemi here!