Promising to be a viral hit of a noisy week in Miami is “Heroes, Villains, and Violence,” an immersive and highly personal fine art exhibit by London-based artists SLAWN (b. Adebayo Oke-Lawal Slawn) and OPAKE (b. Edward Worely). In a body of collaborative works, the artists expose a highly-personal, shared dream to be real life superheroes despite their own histories as self-perceived villains during young adulthoods, plagued with violence and addiction. Giant paintings on wood panels will merge popular figures, parody, and pop iconography in a way that feels both chaotic and precise, alongside a theme of boxing, representing the new fight the artists endure to stay on a strict path to success in the name of their families. Original pieces start at $20,000.
The exhibition will take place inside The Art of Hip Hop, a dynamic cultural space currently presented by Zig-Zag, the 145-year-old OG company that made rolling papers a cultural rite of passage. While The Art of Hip Hop has been celebrating the genre through visual art, photography, and immersive experiences since 2023, this exhibit marks a big change in regular programming by looking toward the future of visual art in Hip Hop instead of recounting the past. The opening of the exhibit will fall on the venue’s 2nd anniversary which will be celebrated over the course of 3 days in the heart of Wynwood from December 3 - 5, 2025. The exhibition will run until December 31, 2025.
While the show will be contained within the 4 walls of the space, visitors will also have a chance to experience the duo’s highly anticipated, limited edition pop up shop packed with unique collectibles exclusive to the exhibit. Immediately outside of the show is a complete interactive patio, shared with Museum of Graffiti and its Private Gallery, which will be home to the Zig- Zag lounge curated with world-class programming including a complete schedule of DJ sets, drops, live art, and premium giveaways from other official partners such as Curaleaf and Monster Energy, who are generously supporting the exhibition. A full line up of programming is forthcoming.
Doors open at 11AM on December 3, 2025 with full campus-wide tickets at $25 (including Museum of Graffiti and the Private Gallery). Tickets are available exclusively at www.artofhiphop.com. The duo will host a limited edition drop at 1PM on opening day.
About Slawn
SLAWN is a Nigerian-born artist, designer, and true cultural provocateur known for his irreverent humor and fearless commentary on race, class, and society. He represents a new wave of global street-influenced artists who treat humor, chaos, and contradiction as tools for truth-telling. His art mixes street art energy, African cultural identity, and in-your-face irreverence, positioning him as one of the most exciting and unpredictable voices in contemporary art. Slawn’s first clothing brand Motherlan became a symbol of Nigerian youth culture and was the catalyst for his role in defining the new aesthetic for Gen Z Hip Hop. His rise in the art world has been meteoric, with iconic work produced for some of Hip Hop’s biggest names including Gunna, Skepta, Central Cee, and Virgil Abloh.
About Opake
OPAKE is a prominent London-based artist whose work merges deep roots in graffiti with pop art and personal reflection. He reimagines iconic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Pink Panther in ways that delve into deeper themes of mental health, addiction, and the breakdown of pop culture. Opake's artistic journey is closely tied to his struggle with addiction. Having experienced drug-induced psychosis, he transformed his battle into a source of creative power. His art frequently uses repetition and cluttered compositions, symbolizing the cyclical nature of addiction and the concept of insanity—doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. These visual elements mirror his personal struggles and eventual recovery.
