Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀

Artist statement

I visited the Ibadan museum and was drawn to a brilliant box covered in ornate carvings, its figures seeming almost alive. It was called Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀, by Olowe of Ise. It haunted my mind for days, and slowly a story began to develop. This series is the result of that encounter: a love story between Ayo and Morenike that questions life, love, craft, and meaning, told across six chapters.

Each chapter has three ways in. The script lets you into the story. The central painting takes you into the work. And a set of small digital sculptures (stools, charms, carved objects) sit in the scene as symbols and clues, shedding light on Yoruba history and culture.

Olowe of Ise and the wider tradition of Yoruba woodcarvers inspired all of this, many of whom have been swallowed by history. They poured intention, culture, and history into carved wood. Their work endured; their names often did not. Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ is partly a reckoning with that erasure, and asks what it means to carry a craft forward.

This is my little tribute to Yoruba storytelling and the beautiful world of Yoruba craft. It’s my first work of this scale, and I hope it carries across some of the wonder I felt while making it. Read the script, play the game, look closely at the paintings and sculptures, and have fun.

Kayode Oyeniyi · Kaysworks

Release schedule

After Chapter 1, the series continues across five more releases. Six chapters, May through November 2026. Each release is a self-contained world that advances Ayo’s story, built from a 1/1 digital painting, a set of digital sculptures, written narrative, and optional archival prints. You can follow from the beginning, or step in wherever the story finds you.

Dates are subject to change. I will always announce if any date changes.

Precursor

Precursor Month

Entry tokens, world primer, social teasers, merch reveal, and the Ìgbáradì precursor auction.

View auction

Precursor auction

Ìgbáradì

Ìgbáradì means Preparation. The piece was conceived during my process of building the visual and cultural world of Ayo. It depicts a carefully arranged scene containing:

Ornate earthen pitchers
Adire (Yoruba resist-dyed fabric)
A bowl of kolanut (Obi)

Each of these objects carries deep cultural meaning within Yoruba traditions, Pitchers keep water cool throughout the day, kolanut is central to ceremonies, greetings, and divination, and Adire represents a celebrated craft with generations of mastery and countless variations. Igbaradi reflects my research into the traditions I aim to honor, remember and showcase. It also serves as the direct precursor to “The Meeting,” the opening chapter of the series, a table prepared for the chief’s council gathering. In every sense, this piece is the first step into the world I am building, and I am deeply excited to share it with you. Every element in the artwork was individually sculpted, painted, and simulated with care to achieve its final form.

01

The Chiefs’ Meeting

A gathering of elders gives insight into the character of Ayo and the outlook of society on his craft

● Now live

02

Ìpàdé

The Meeting. Ayo and Morenike first cross paths

Jun 1

03

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

Under the Orange Tree. A moment of intimacy, truth, and shared vulnerability

Aug 3

04

Ilé Agbẹgilérè

Is love enough? will i be enough, will i be able to make her happy? do i deserve her? am i greedy?

Sep 14

05

The Engagement

An event that tests family expectations, tradition, and love. The role of the Àpótí is revealed

Oct 14

06

Aftermath

Narrative resolution, emotional closure. Key elements and characters revealed

Nov 9

Post

Collector Rewards Unlock & World Compendium

Gold rewards, digital book, character deep dives, exhibition, optional commemorative items

November onward

Chapter 1 · Now live

The Chiefs’ Meeting

Painting

The Chiefs’ Meeting

The central Chapter 1 painting introduces the gathering of elders and the social world surrounding Ayo’s craft.

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Chapter 1 sculpture set

The Ìjòkòó Set

The gems of Chapter 1, the Ìjòkòó Set, are the stools present in the chiefs’ meeting: quiet evidence of Ayo’s hand, his discipline, and the dignity of work that is often noticed only after it has already been carrying everyone.

I J Ò K Ò Ó

Carved stools of power & presence

Triple-tap to unveil · Touch or hover to explore

Chapter 1 script

The Chiefs’ Meeting

Read Script

Chapter 2 · Now live

Ìpàdé (The Meeting)

Painting

Ìpàdé I

The central Chapter 2 painting captures the moment Ayo and Morenike first cross paths — a commission, a conversation, and something neither of them expected.

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Chapter 2 sculpture set

The Ọ̀pá Set

The carved staffs at the heart of Ayo and Morenike’s first meeting: Ọ̀pá Orísun, the beginning of his craft; Ọ̀pá Ìrántí, made in memory of his grandfather; and Ọ̀pá Ẹkùn, the commission that brings their paths together.

Ọ̀pá Orísun

Ọ̀pá Ìrántí

Ọ̀pá Ẹkùn

Chapter 2 script

Ìpàdé (The Meeting)

Read Script

Chapter 3 · Now live

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

Main painting

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

The central Chapter 3 painting holds Ayo and Morenike beneath the orange tree, away from the market bustle, as affection gives way to promises about family and their future.

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Painting edition

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

A portrait edition drawn closer to the orange tree: two hands, one fruit, and a shared gesture that distils the chapter’s intimacy.

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Chapter 3 script

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó (Under the Orange Tree)

Read Script

Chapter 4

Ilé Agbẹgilérè (The Wood Carver's House)

Painting

Ilé Agbẹgilérè

Is love enough? will i be enough, will i be able to make her happy? do i deserve her? am i greedy?

View full screen

Chapter 4 script

Ilé Agbẹgilérè (The Wood Carver's House)

Read Script

Chapter 5 · Now live

The Engagement

Sculpture

Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ · The Box

The carved box at the heart of The Engagement.

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Sculpture

Ayo

Ayo holding the carved Àpótí box.

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Painting

The Engagement

Coming soon

The Chapter 5 painting is coming soon.

Chapter 5 script

The Engagement

Read Script

Visual archive

Works, studies, objects, and design elements from the series. Come closer, look around. This is the world Ayo lives in.

Research foundation

The cultural layer of Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ begins with Yoruba carving traditions, the named and unnamed artists who shaped them, and the objects that carried story, authority, memory, and praise.

Foundation

Olowe of Ise: primary research

Deep study of Olowe of Ise and other Yoruba woodcarvers: their veranda posts, palace doors, vessels, and carved objects. Key references include the Òpó collection held at the Met, the lidded bowl held at the Smithsonian, and the Ikere palace doors now held at the British Museum. The focus is compositional innovation, symbolic language, and the oral praise traditions surrounding the work.

World-building

20th century Yoruba culture & tradition

The story of Ayo and Morenike is set in the Yoruba region Southwest of Nigeria in the early-to-mid 20th century, a time before rapid urbanisation reshaped the landscape, when compound life, craft guilds, and oral tradition still structured daily existence. The work draws on historical accounts of Yoruba domestic life, the social role of the wood carver within a community, how markets were organised, what people wore, how they greeted one another, what ceremonies marked the seasons, and what the inside of a compound actually looked and felt like. The research is not about strict accuracy since the series is fiction, but about grounding the world in enough cultural truth that the characters, the settings, and the details feel like they genuinely belong to a time and a place.

Cultural layer

Yoruba symbolic motifs

Research into carved stools, charms, ornamentation, ritual objects, and doors as narrative devices. The aim is to translate the feeling and function of Yoruba craft into digital sculpture without losing its charm, seriousness, or cultural weight.

On-chain architecture

Custom contracts & multichain infrastructure

Auction & bid requirements

The tokens are your way into Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀: a small claim in the world being built, access to the live chapter auctions, and a place inside the story as it unfolds. Each tier carries a different relationship to the project. See the privileges below before you choose how you want to enter.

Token privileges

Entry Token Wood

Bid & buy paintings and sculptures
Name on the project monolith

Bronze Token Burn to redeem

Bid & buy paintings and sculptures
Exclusive access to select works
Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ merch
Name on the project monolith

Gold Token Airdropped

Awarded through chapter auctions
One airdrop per chapter, six total
Unlocks collector reward at series close

ⓘ

Before you bid: Entry and Bronze tokens unlock auction access. Collect five Entry (Wood) tokens and burn them to redeem one Bronze token, opening the elevated tier of privileges.

Why crypto, and why this series?

Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ is hosted on the blockchain, a permanent public ledger that records ownership. This is not a technical choice for its own sake; it is what makes the token system real. Every privilege in the series, from auction access to the Bronze burn, happens on-chain, transparently, with no middleman. What you collect is yours in a way that no platform can revoke.

The auctions are also a genuine social experience. Bidding is open, you can see competing bids in real time and follow the same story chapter by chapter alongside other collectors. It is the energy of a gallery opening, without the geography. The five steps below walk you through everything you need to get started.

Ready to get started? The five steps below walk you through everything, from setting up your wallet to placing your first bid.

01

Create a crypto wallet

A wallet is your personal account on the blockchain. It stores your tokens and lets you buy, sell, and receive digital art. The recommended wallet for getting started is Rabby Wallet, a free browser extension and mobile app known for its clean interface and built-in transaction safety checks. Download it, create an account, and you'll be given a secret recovery phrase, 12 words that are the master key to your wallet.

Keep it safe: Write your recovery phrase down on paper, in a notebook, a journal, anywhere physical you trust, and store it somewhere secure. Never share it with anyone, and never save it as a screenshot or in your notes app. Lose it and your wallet cannot be recovered.

02

Fund your wallet

You'll need ETH (Ether) to purchase tokens in this series. You can buy ETH through a regulated exchange such as Coinbase or Kraken, both beginner-friendly and available in most countries. You can also buy ETH directly inside Rabby Wallet using a card via its built-in on-ramp.

How much? Entry tokens are priced affordably. You'll also need a small extra amount (~$5–15 worth of ETH) to cover gas fees, the small network cost per transaction, which varies by time of day.

03

Connect your wallet to OpenSea

OpenSea is the marketplace where Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀ Entry Tokens are available. Visit opensea.io and click Connect Wallet in the top right. Select Rabby Wallet and approve the connection in the pop-up. Your wallet is now linked and you're ready to collect.

Connecting is free. You are simply proving you own the wallet. Nothing is spent until you make a purchase.

04

Mint your Entry (Wood) Token

Click Mint Entry Token below. The OpenSea page will open. Select the quantity you want and click Buy Now. Rabby Wallet will pop up showing the price and gas fee with a clear risk summary; review it, then confirm. Within moments the token will appear in your wallet and on your OpenSea profile.

Already a collector? If you hold five Entry (Wood) tokens you can burn them on Transient Labs to receive one Bronze token and unlock elevated collector privileges.

05

Participate in chapter auctions

With your wallet funded and your Entry Token held, you're eligible to bid on the artwork auctions that accompany each of the six chapters. Head to the auction page, connect your wallet, and place a bid. The highest bidder at closing time wins the piece and receives a Gold Token airdropped to their wallet, with access to exclusive end-of-series rewards.

Entry Token Access

Entry Token Claim Page

Live Auction, Bid Now ◆ Auction Hall of Fame

Live auction

The Ìjòkòó Set

Chapter 1 auction, carved stools of power and presence

Bid now →

Auction ends in

-- : -- : --

Live auction is open

The Collection

Chapter 3 — Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

In Auction

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

Chapter 3’s central painting — Ayo and Morenike share a quiet morning beneath the orange tree.

View Auction

Sold

Lábẹ́ Igi Òroǹbó

The portrait edition — an intimate study of hands, fruit, and affection beneath the tree.

Chapter 2 — Ìpàdé I & The Ọ̀pá Collection

Ọ̀pá Orísun

One of Ayo's first staffs — the beginning of his craft.

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ọ̀pá Ìrántí

Carved in memory of his grandfather.

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ọ̀pá Ẹkùn

Commissioned by Chief Adediran through Morenike.

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ìpàdé I

Chapter 2's central painting — the moment Ayo and Morenike first cross paths.

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Chapter 1 — The Chiefs' Meeting & The Ìjòkòó Set

Sold

The Chiefs' Meeting

Chapter 1's central painting — a gathering of elders that shapes Ayo's fate.

Ìjòkòó I

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ìjòkòó II

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ìjòkòó III

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Sold

Ìjòkòó IV

Ìjòkòó V

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Ìjòkòó VI

Offer on OpenSea Offer on Objkt

Precursor

Sold

Ìgbáradì

The precursor piece — pitchers, adire cloth, and kolanut, preparing the world of the series.

The Community

Patrons

A living circle honouring the collectors helping this story travel, grow, and find a life beyond the studio.

Wood tokenBronze tokenOwns a workGold token

Tap or click a patron token to view their collected works

Gathering the circle…

Enter the Holder Hub →

Join the conversation

Thread 01

Àpótí Ọlọ́wẹ̀

Apoti Olowe

The opening thread: the name, the concept, and what it means to build a serialized narrative around the chest.

Deep Dive

Thread 02

Ìgbàradì

Preparation

On the research and preparation phase: the Yoruba references, the world-building around Ayo, the traditional objects and their significance.

Deep Dive

Thread 03

Ìlẹ̀kun Ìtàn

The Door of Story

The door: the story etched in wooden panels; the Yoruba etch stories in door panels, it's only fitting to advance the tradition.

Deep Dive

Thread 04

Ìjòkòó

The Ìjòkòó Set

The seating set: exploring the Ìjòkòó sculptures, their role in the story, and the craft language embedded in every carved form.

Deep Dive

Thread 05

Multichain Infrastructure

Multichain Nature of the project

I dived into the infrastructures I put in place to support the multichain aspects of this project.

Deep Dive

Follow the full conversation on X