BIO

Irene Yèga Omiunu is a British-Nigerian fashion artist, educator and researcher who, over the last decade, has built an impressive international client portfolio, including British Vogue, The Dubai Mall, Maison Ladurée Paris, Diane von Furstenberg, Fashion Trust Arabia and Boghossian,

cementing her reputation as one of the leading voices in contemporary fashion illustration.

From transforming entire walls at the world’s largest shopping mall into works of art to creating fashion portraits of HRH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, Yèga has undertaken numerous exclusive commissions, creating distinctive, one-of-a-kind artistic experiences for clients across the arts and luxury fashion industries.

Her pioneering work and thought leadership in African fashion illustration and heritage textile symbology have earned her international recognition and invitations to speak, teach and contribute to programmes at some of the world’s leading galleries and cultural institutions, notably the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), The Courtauld Institute of Art, The Courtauld Gallery and The Africa Center in New York City.

Yèga is the founder of Fashion Illustration Africa, a platform dedicated to championing African fashion illustration and nurturing the next generation of artists through mentorship, professional development and accessible digital learning opportunities.

She is also a founding trustee of the Association of Authors and Illustrators of Nigeria (ACAIN), an organisation dedicated to promoting diverse picture books and literature featuring Black African protagonists.

With an MSc in International Management with Marketing (Distinction) from the University of Exeter, Yèga brings a global perspective to her artistic practice and creative consultancy through Studio Yèga.

She is currently an African Creativity Beyond Borders Prize Doctoral Scholar at King's College London, where her research explores how young Africans under the age of 35 navigate skills development and upskilling pathways within the informal creative economy. Her research builds on her longstanding commitment to nurturing creative talent and advancing opportunities for the next generation of African artists.