Draft:Tobi Shinobi

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  • Comment: blogs and interviews are not suitable sources please replace. Theroadislong (talk) 18:43, 9 September 2025 (UTC)


Tobi Shinobi (born 1982) is a British photographer and visual artist based between London and Chicago. He is noted for work on urban landscapes, architecture, and symmetry.[1] His photography has been exhibited internationally, including a 2023 Times Square display as part of the MVVO Ad Art Show.[2][3]

Shinobi has collaborated with commercial brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Lululemon,[4][5] and has held creative roles at Havas Chicago and TikTok’s Creative Lab.[6] His first photo book, Equilibrium (2021), was published by Trope.[7]

He is a Sony Global Imaging Ambassador and an Adobe Ambassador,[8][9] and has received recognition including the Shorty Awards “Audience Honor for Best Images” for Moen[10] and a Bronze Clio Award for Procter & Gamble’s Lead With Love campaign.[11]

His work also includes community-focused projects, such as the Rise Above Body Image campaign and the 2025 series Blood on the Leaves, which addressed racial visibility through infrared photography and augmented reality.[12][13]

Early life and background

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Tobi Shinobi was born in East London and raised there before relocating to Chicago.[14][15]

He began his career working as a litigator—trained and practicing law in the U.K.—before transitioning to photography.[16][17]

Shinobi is a self-taught photographer, known for leveraging Instagram to share architectural and urban landscape images, which helped him build a significant following and establish his professional profile.[18]

He currently splits his time between London and Chicago.[19]

Career

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Shinobi’s commercial photography has included projects with Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Audi, and Coach.[20][21][22][23]

He joined Havas Chicago as a Senior Content Creator, producing photography and video content for digital campaigns.[24] He later became a Lead Creative Strategist at TikTok’s Creative Lab, developing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.[25]

In May 2021, Shinobi published his first photo book, Equilibrium, through Trope’s Emerging Photographer Series.[26][27] The book includes a foreword by photographer Sandro Miller and was noted for its exploration of symmetry and abstraction.[28]

In 2024, Shinobi and long-time collaborator Lonnie Edwards opened **Studio Sh_Sh** in Chicago, a creative space combining fine art and digital experimentation.[29]

Ambassadorships and recognitions

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Shinobi is a Sony Global Imaging Ambassador[30][31] as well as an Adobe Ambassador, appearing in global campaigns for Lightroom and Firefly.[32][33]

He contributes to educational programming for both Adobe and Sony. For Adobe, he hosted a live tutorial titled "Refresh your conference look with a stylized headshot" focusing on Lightroom techniques,[34] and has appeared in Adobe blog features discussing creative uses of generative AI.[35] As part of Sony’s ambassador program, he participated in a “Creator Conversations” Ask Me Anything session on Alpha Universe.[36]

His campaign work for Moen won the “Audience Honor for Best Images” at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards.[37] He also received a Bronze Clio Award for Procter & Gamble’s Lead With Love campaign.[38]

In 2023, Shinobi’s augmented reality series Grammatically Correct was featured at the MVVO Ad Art Show, a program showcasing creatives from advertising backgrounds. The work was exhibited in Times Square, New York City.[39][40][41]

Exhibitions and selected work

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  • Body Image (2016), Rise Above community project/exhibit.[42][43]
  • I Take Photos (2017), documentary film.[44]
  • Light Railing (2019), photography series exploring long-exposure cityscapes.[45]
  • Equilibrium (2021), photo book published by Trope as part of the Emerging Photographer Series.[46][47]
  • Shadow Dancer Vol. 1 (2023), a joint exhibition in Chicago with Lonnie Edwards held at the West Town Chamber of Commerce. The immersive show was featured on The Cre8tors’ artist platform, which highlighted the exhibition’s presence in Brazil and Chicago and noted the work *Grammatically Correct* was exhibited in Times Square following MVVO recognition.[48][49]
  • Grammatically Correct (2023), augmented reality series featured at the MVVO AD ART SHOW, with a Times Square display in New York City.[50][51]
  • Scope Walls (2024), featured artist in Scope Miami Beach’s large-scale mural program, in collaboration with STRAAT Museum.[52]
  • Blood on the Leaves (2025), infrared photography series exploring race and visibility, featured by *My Modern Met*.[53]

Non-profit and community impact

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In 2016, Shinobi contributed to the Body Image campaign by Rise Above, a U.K. health education initiative for young people. His participation focused on using photography and social media as tools for self-expression in discussions about body confidence.[54][55]

In April 2025, he participated in a public panel discussion hosted by The Cre8tors at Chicago’s Navy Pier, which explored how technology is reshaping creativity and community engagement.[56]

Shinobi’s 2025 series Blood on the Leaves uses infrared photography and augmented reality to comment on racial visibility and the marginalization of Black people. The project was featured in *My Modern Met*, which described it as using visual metaphor to address social exclusion.[57]

References

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  1. ^ "Artist Interview: Tobi Shinobi". Artivive. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  2. ^ "Artwork Gallery – AD ART SHOW 2023". MVVO ART. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  3. ^ "Celebrating Creativity: The AD ART SHOW". Outfront Media. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  4. ^ "Lululemon Men: Tobi Shinobi". Cool Hunting. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  5. ^ "Adidas – Run for the Oceans". Webby Awards. 2022. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  6. ^ Jay, Corli (2023-05-12). "Where It's @: tobishinobi". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  7. ^ "Abstracted Shots Frame the Endless Patterns of Architecture – Tobi Shinobi: Equilibrium". Colossal. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  8. ^ "Meet our ambassadors (Alpha Universe)". Alpha Universe (Sony). Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  9. ^ "Tobi Shinobi remixes the art of what's possible with Adobe Firefly". Adobe Blog. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  10. ^ "Moen Inspired by: Best Images". Shorty Awards. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  11. ^ "P&G Lead With Love – Bronze Clio". Clio Awards. November 2024. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  12. ^ "Tobi Shinobi talks Body Image". Rise Above. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  13. ^ "Moving Infrared Imagery Used as Metaphor for Marginalization in Tobi Shinobi's 'Blood on the Leaves'". My Modern Met. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  14. ^ Barrett, Nicola (7 July 2021). ""Shoot what you love and love what you shoot" – Tobi Shinobi feature". NR·WORLD. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  15. ^ Jay, Corli (2023-05-12). "Where It's @: tobishinobi". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  16. ^ "Q&A: An interview with Lightroom ambassador Tobi Shinobi". Adobe Blog. 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  17. ^ Barrett, Nicola (7 July 2021). ""Shoot what you love and love what you shoot" – Tobi Shinobi feature". NR·WORLD. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  18. ^ "Through the Lens: Back in the USA – Photographer Tobi Shinobi (@tobishinobi)". Adorama ALC. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  19. ^ Jay, Corli (2023-05-12). "Where It's @: tobishinobi". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  20. ^ "Nike, Inc. Q4 2022 Earnings Report". Nike. 2022. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  21. ^ "Adidas – Run for the Oceans". Webby Awards. 2022. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  22. ^ "Lululemon Men: Tobi Shinobi". Cool Hunting. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  23. ^ "A Thousand Words: @tobishinobi". Zanerobe. 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  24. ^ Jay, Corli (2023-05-12). "Where It's @: tobishinobi". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  25. ^ "Artist Interview: Tobi Shinobi". Artivive. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  26. ^ "Equilibrium by Tobi Shinobi". Trope. 2021. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  27. ^ "Abstracted shots frame the endless patterns of architecture – Tobi Shinobi: Equilibrium". Colossal. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  28. ^ "A Conversation with Tobi Shinobi and Sandro Miller". Filter Photo. 2021. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  29. ^ "Artist Interview: Tobi Shinobi". Artivive. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  30. ^ "Meet our ambassadors (Alpha Universe)". Alpha Universe (Sony). Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  31. ^ "Tobishinobi: Our latest Sony Global Imaging Ambassador". Sony Community UK. 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  32. ^ "Q&A: An interview with Lightroom ambassador Tobi Shinobi". Adobe Blog. 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  33. ^ "Tobi Shinobi remixes the art of what's possible with Adobe Firefly". Adobe Blog. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  34. ^ "Create a Stylized Headshot with Tobi Shinobi". YouTube (Adobe). 21 October 2020. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  35. ^ "Tobi Shinobi remixes the art of what's possible with Adobe Firefly". Adobe Blog. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  36. ^ "Highlights From Our AMA With Tobi Shinobi". Alpha Universe (Sony). 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  37. ^ "Moen Inspired by: Best Images". Shorty Awards. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  38. ^ "Procter & Gamble – Lead With Love (Bronze Clio)". Clio Awards. November 2024. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  39. ^ "Artist Interview: Tobi Shinobi". Artivive. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  40. ^ "Artwork Gallery – AD ART SHOW 2023". MVVO ART. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  41. ^ "Celebrating Creativity: The AD ART SHOW". Outfront Media. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  42. ^ "Tobi Shinobi talks Body Image". Rise Above. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  43. ^ "Body Image ft. Photographer & Instagrammer Tobi Shinobi". YouTube. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  44. ^ "I Take Photos Documentary — Tobishinobi". TobiShinobi.com. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  45. ^ "Light Railing: Magic by Tobi Shinobi Who Transfers City into Abstract Tunnels of Light". DesignSwan. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  46. ^ "Abstracted Shots Frame the Endless Patterns of Architecture – Tobi Shinobi: Equilibrium". Colossal. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  47. ^ "Introducing Tobi Shinobi: Equilibrium". Trope. 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  48. ^ "Tobi Shinobi – The Cre8tors". The Cre8tors. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  49. ^ "West Town Chamber Member Exhibitions: Shadow Dancer Vol. I". West Town Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  50. ^ "Artwork Gallery – AD ART SHOW 2023". MVVO ART. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  51. ^ "Celebrating Creativity: The AD ART SHOW". OUTFRONT Media. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  52. ^ "STRAAT Miami Art Basel Week: Scope Walls artists including Tobi Shinobi". STRAAT Museum. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  53. ^ "Moving Infrared Imagery Used as Metaphor for Marginalization in Tobi Shinobi's 'Blood on the Leaves'". My Modern Met. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  54. ^ "Tobi Shinobi talks Body Image". Rise Above. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  55. ^ "Body Image ft. Photographer & Instagrammer Tobi Shinobi". YouTube. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  56. ^ "Panel discussion presented by The Cre8tors". Navy Pier. 2025-04-22. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  57. ^ "Moving Infrared Imagery Used as Metaphor for Marginalization in Tobi Shinobi's 'Blood on the Leaves'". My Modern Met. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
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