Catch It Before It’s Gone: Yinka Ilori’s Dynamic Pop-Up in NYC

Photography courtesy of Bloomingdales

For those who long for bright, joyful spring blooms this fall, you’re in luck. Nigerian-born, London-based multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori—known for his whimsical creations rendered in vibrant hues—has designed a dynamic pop-up experience at Bloomingdale’s NYC flagship store.

Think Alice in Wonderland meets high-end retail: Ilori channels 1960s psychedelia in his interpretation of the retailer's “Just Imagine” fall campaign, transforming the store’s façade and window displays into a kaleidoscope of pop art, vivid colors, and retro patterns. Inside, he takes over the store’s Carousel space with his installation, “Cherish Your Magic.” Marrying art and fashion in a technicolor display of form and feeling, Ilori’s work features oversized florals and sprawling vines in printed and 3D formats that stop shoppers in their tracks. This collaboration also includes exclusive, limited-edition products Ilori created for Bloomingdale's and brands like New Era, Baccarat, and PlayStation.

Yinka Ilori with a  collection he designed for Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings (above right, photo by Chris Force ), which earned the coveted Best of Competition award at Best of NeoCon 2024; exterior photo (above left) courtesy of Yink Ilori 

With a color-drenched palette and an optimistic sensibility, Ilori’s designs convey pure jubilation that’s worth the subway ride to 59th Street. A year in the making, Ilori first envisioned the installation—his largest project to date—while strolling through Central Park as he was taking in the nature and wildlife around him. Delighted with the resulting animated expression that radiates his signature style, Ilori has said he hopes the Bloomingdale's installation inspires viewers to believe in the magic within themselves.

Stay tuned for Ilori’s next endeavor: a new philanthropic effort. He says the developing project accomplishes what he has always tried to do through his work, “to bring people together through art and storytelling, but this time with an even deeper focus on giving back to the communities.”

Yinka Ilori's Playstation activation at Bloomingdale's (photos courtesy of Bloomingdale's)

Yinka Ilori’s installation is on display at the Bloomingdale’s NYC flagship at 59th St. and Lexington Ave. through Oct. 31, 2025.