Syl Loko (1996) is an emerging contemporary visual artist from Benin, who graduated in visual art at Inmaac National Institute of Crafts of Archaeological and Cultural Art at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin). He lives and works in Dèkoungbé in the town of Abomey-Calavi.

His drawings, paintings, mixed media works and sculptures represent subjects that resonate with memory by establishing a dialogue between culture, lived experiences and imagination. He is inspired by the way experiences and decisions form a human being into who they are. This has led him amongst others to the technique of using painted plywood, nails and other recycled materials.

Each nail or point represents the experiences people live through and strengthen and build their identity. Like the nails withstand the blows of the hammer and shape up the image, human beings must, like these nails, face and deal with the challenges and joys that life throws our way, which shapes us to what we are.

Loko started to exhibit early on during his studies and has been participating in various exhibitions at independent art spaces and festivals in Cotonou and online galleries as well as in the Netherlands and Germany.