The multi-piece installation will debut in November 2026 and remain on display through May 2027
Nigerian-born, Arkansas-based interdisciplinary artist Oluwatobi Adewumi to present “The Stories We Carry.” The multi-piece installation will debut in November 2026 and remain on display through May 2027.
“The response to this year’s open request speaks volumes, with more than 100 artists from near and far eager to bring their work to Lincoln Road,” said Lyle Stern, president of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. “Businesses part of the BID are deeply committed to making arts and culture part of the everyday experience here, investing in public art that is accessible, thought-provoking and woven into the fabric of the district. We’re excited to build on that momentum with Adewumi’s work to reinforce the BID’s dedication to making art a district cornerstone.”
Adewumi has been awarded $75,000 to bring “The Stories We Carry” to life on Lincoln Road. The immersive installation will be approximately 60 feet long, 10 feet wide and 9 feet tall, featuring a pathway of sculptural suitcases and suspended tags made with powder-coated steel, aluminum panels, etched and laser-cut metal and a weather-resistant finish, symbolizing the journeys people carry with them across generations and geographies.
“Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Call to Artists, we’re proud to expand this initiative of bringing global artists to Lincoln Road where they can introduce their work to millions of annual visitors,” said Anabel Llopis, executive director of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. “Oluwatobi Adewumi’s ‘The Stories We Carry’ will give visitors an opportunity to see their own experiences reflected while encountering the journeys of others, advancing our commitment to accessible public art and making Lincoln Road a year-round cultural destination.”
Reflecting on migration, memory and identity, Adewumi weaves together personal and collective stories, reminding us that identities are always richer and more complex than any label can express. Suitcases both conceptually and physically mark the center of the installation, reflecting containers of memories and what we choose to take with us or leave behind. Portraits, handwritten words, travel marks, archival fragments and suspended travel tags speak to resilience and dreams brought across borders. By combining sculpture, architectural forms and narrative elements, his work creates spaces for reflection and dialogue, affirming that every path leaves a lasting mark on both individuals and the communities they help shape.
“It is an incredible honor to get this opportunity and share ‘The Stories We Carry’ on Lincoln Road,” said Adewumi. “‘The Stories We Carry’ grew from my own experience of migration and from conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by movement across countries, cities and generations. By choosing to multiply the familiar concept of a suitcase, my hope is that the installation becomes part of the rhythm of the street, inviting people to walk through it, reflect on their own journeys and connect with the experiences of others.”
Last year’s inaugural open call generated significant global interest, attracting over 75 submissions from artists around the world. The winning proposal, “La Herencia Viva” by Miami-based Colombian artist Oscar Esteban Martinez, was unveiled during Miami Art Week 2025 and remained on view through May 2026. “The Stories We Carry” will serve as a major highlight of this year’s Miami Art Week, joining an impressive lineup of world-renowned artists over the years.
The Art on Lincoln: Sculpture, Installations and More public art program is made possible by the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. For more information on current installations, artist opportunities and upcoming events, visit lincolnroad.com.
Oluwatobi Adewumi (b. 1981, Ibadan, Nigeria) is a Nigerian born, Arkansas based interdisciplinary artist whose work explores migration, identity, memory, and belonging through drawing, painting, collage, installation, and public art. Working with charcoal, acrylic, archival materials, and found objects, Adewumi transforms personal and collective histories into immersive visual experiences that examine how movement across borders shapes individual lives and cultural identities. His practice investigates the emotional and physical weight of migration, revealing the stories embedded within everyday objects, documents, and the human figure.
Adewumi’s work has been presented in solo exhibitions at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (Arkansas), Von Lintel Gallery (Los Angeles), Ouachita Baptist University, South Arkansas Arts Center, Art Ventures NWA, ACANSA Gallery, and the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum at Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia). His work has also been exhibited at institutions including The Butler Institute of American Art, North Dakota Museum of Art, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), Salmagundi Club (New York), Rosenzweig Center for Arts & Education, and SCOPE Art Fair (Miami).
His work is included in public and private collections, including the North Dakota Museum of Art, The Bunker, and he has completed public art commissions in Arkansas and Nigeria. Adewumi has received numerous honors, including being a finalist for the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art, the Grand Prize at the El Dorado Juried Exhibition, the People’s Choice Award at the Derwent Art Prize (London), and the Merit Award at the Providence Art Club National Juried Exhibition. He was also the recipient of the Artist Leadership Fellowship from Mid America Arts Alliance and has participated in residencies including Foundation House Residency, Vermont Studio Center, and James Castle House Residency, with an upcoming residency at Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency.
Public engagement is central to Adewumi’s practice. Through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and community based projects, he creates spaces where audiences are invited to reflect on themes of displacement, resilience, cultural memory, and shared humanity. His installations often encourage participation, transforming viewers from observers into contributors whose experiences become part of the work itself.
Through projects such as The Stories We Carry, Adewumi expands portraiture beyond the picture plane into large scale public installations that celebrate the journeys people carry with them across generations and geographies. By combining sculpture, architectural forms, and narrative elements, his work creates spaces for reflection, empathy, and dialogue, affirming that every journey leaves a lasting mark on both individuals and the communities they help shape.
