Get ready to strike a pose—because Nigerian-American artist Iké Udé is at it again and proving that fashion is not what you wear, but how you tell your story. And this time, he’s turning the style world on its head with a show-stopping spread in the May 2025 issue of Vogue and a starring role in the Met Gala’s dazzling theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”.
Yes, darling, it’s tailor-made for greatness.
Best known for his hyper-stylized, rainbow-colored portraits that combine the crispness of performance art and the elegance of vintage glam, Udé is not just along for the ride—he’s creating the moment. His latest work, which Vogue is happily featuring in its glossy pages, features none other than award-winning actor Colman Domingo. Coptering a tempest of opulent texture and hue, Domingo exudes old-school cool with a contemporary twist, all thanks to the skillful facility of Udé in combining narrative visuality and fashion acumen.
This is not your average fashion spread. This is Iké Udé’s universe, where each image is a feast for the eyes and a master class in style storytelling. Regal postures, sumptuous textures, bold color blocs, and an unmistakable wink of drama spring to mind. Vogue’s cover story offers a glimpse of the kind of artistry that art lovers and fashion insiders are in a tizzy about—and just in time for the Met Gala.
Speaking of which, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style is quite likely the most fashionable theme the Met has ever had, and Udé is responsible. As an art consultant to the show, he’s been dictating how the world is looking at the evolution of Black style—Harlem chic, contemporary kings and queens, and beyond. His portraits will be featured on the pages of Vogue and are acting as a visual backdrop to one of fashion’s most monumental nights.
“Self-expression is the sandbox of the Met Gala,” Udé jokes, “and power dressing has always been about power—especially when one wears it with pride. Black fashion? That’s the very first haute couture.” And he’s right.
As celebrities and designers scramble for the perfect look to walk up the Met’s famous stairs, Udé has already had his moment. His photos don’t just celebrate Black fashion—they consecrate it. His photos take a dive into the deep end of heritage, elegance, and rebellion. They remind us that fashion is never just surface-level—it’s cultural, it’s emotional, and oh-so-political.
Now, if you’re wondering where all this fabulousness fits in with the broader fashion scene, look no further than Udé’s aesthetic industry mate: Cameroonian designer Imane Ayissi, whose creations are also turning heads. While Udé is spinning magic through his lens, Ayissi is weaving stories into fabric, bringing African couture to the Paris runway with flair and finesse. Their combined effect is a sleek thunderclap—ringing from Lagos to Paris and now reverberating through the Met’s corridors.
But back to our man of the moment.
Iké Udé doesn’t just create art—he directs mood, refinement, and self. His feature in Vogue and the Met Gala is not a cameo—it’s a statement: African fashion and Black style aren’t trends. They’re the template.
So as the Met Gala red carpet heats up and Vogue goes off the newsstand, take note of this name. Iké Udé is not just in the conversation—he’s rewriting the conversation.
