Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1544635
is focused on legacy and Black culture … Growing up in Lagos, I just loved how loud Nigeria was. In loudness there is a lot of joy. In the African house, the living room is the heart of the house. "When I think about heirlooms, I want to be able to leave something behind that shows my story from beginning to end," Coker says. program. The creative year-long residency, which has relationships currently with MoMA and the V&A in London, launches many careers and in Coker's year was limited to just seven residents worldwide, with only four from the U.S. After Coker's residency wrapped, Adobe became a client. Other creative projects flowed his way, lured by a signature style honed during his Adobe sojourn. Beyond his graphics chops, clients were attracted to Coker's commitment to social justice and mission to uplift the Black community. Campaigns for Adobe ("Honor Heroes" and "Diverse Voices") and AT&T ("Dream in Black") followed, as well as unique projects including Black Girls Code ads; artwork for the Issa Rae HBO series Insecure; and, in the literary world, the dramatic book cover for The New York Times bestseller Punching the Air, a young adult novel about a wrongfully incarcerated teenage boy who seeks solace in words and art. In 2021, Coker was commissioned to reimagine the Oscar statuette for a series of televised ads. As the pinnacle of the "Bring Your Movie Love" campaign, he was one of seven international artists sought out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to add energy to that year's cinematic awards season. Coker's personal life has been ascendant, too. He married his soulmate, fellow creative/ photographer Afritina Coker, in 2018, and two children followed. In 2018, the couple also founded Coker Studio, the brand name for his designs and online shop. His Oak Cliff photography rental studio, in the historic Tyler Station building, serves as a site of frequent community- focused pop-ups highlighting Coker's burgeoning fashion brand (his color-blocked jackets, $200 to $350, frequently sell out). Timed to Mother's Day 2026, the Mama varsity jacket emblazoned with cool-kids slang Muva is emblematic of the collection. With Temi-styled graphics, the buoyant streetwear, often sporting positive messaging, possesses an '80s feel- good vibe. It was providential when Coker Studio, at Afritina's urging, created its first home goods collections: pillowcases with the Temi treatment. Soon Walmart came calling, and the Temi Coker x Walmart collab was born. The 16-piece collection includes pillows, throws, rugs, and vases, priced from $13 to $320, and is available for a limited time this spring through the retailer's website. The Walmart site sports an image of the charismatic artist surrounded by his creations — art and life come full circle. Most compelling is the video explaining his merch. Cradling a vase, he begins, "I really wanted people to feel the texture. I hear texture is our crown." Reflecting on his homeland, he says, "This collection Temi Coker x Walmart decorative vases inspired by African hair texture. At home, a Coker Studio cardigan over the chair. Coker Studio Good Fathers jacket. The artist's collection for Walmart, with his posters. Temi Coker x Walmart jacquard throws JAMES KUNG JAMES KUNG ANDRÉ JONES ANDRÉ JONES PHOTO ANDRÉ JONES. PRODUCTION DESIGN OSASU ASALU / THINK MODERN. DESIGN ASSISTANT UYI EWANSIHA. 60