Entrepreneur and multidisciplinary artist Temi Coker — whose clients have included Google, Netflix, and Adobe, according to his website — is using culturally resonant art and sustainable, innovative methods to redefine how art, heritage, and home design intersect.
Known for creating designs that celebrate both his Nigerian roots and African American identity, Coker has transformed his artistic vision into the 18-piece Temi Coker Home Collection, available exclusively at Walmart. Centered on his family — his wife and two children — the collection embraces emerging technologies at a time when many view them as a threat, while emphasizing duality and honoring the multiple facets of Coker’s identity. Each piece creates space for others to see themselves reflected in the work.
“Being able to bring in technology as a tool to solve a problem, I think that’s what it should be used for,” Coker told AFROTECH™. As a business owner and product founder, he sees technology not as a replacement for creativity, but as a tool to solve problems and streamline processes.
“I think when you have a problem, you figure out ways to solve it, whether by hand, whether by machine, because again, they all have the same means to an end to solve a problem, to save time,” Coker added. “And I think sometimes people like to be able to feel what they’re doing, but I think even with the technology, there’s this aspect of being able to create something on your screen and still be able to feel the product at the end.”
Generational Wealth Is More Than Money
For Coker, his career is about more than money, which can easily disappear once someone passes away. It’s about memories, experiences, and legacy. As a husband and father, those values shape both his work and his ambitions.
“So when I think of generational wealth, it’s more than money,” Coker shared. “It’s the experiences and the choices they get to have growing up. It’s the type of life they get to live and the lessons they learn along the way.”
While sales numbers matter, Coker measures success by impact, which he says carries more weight. It’s the surreal feeling of knowing that someone purchased a piece because it spoke to them — and that it now lives in their home, woven into their everyday memories.
“And to me, that supersedes money because I want people to be able to experience and create the memories with the items in their own homes,” Coker said. “And I think for me, success is that these people have their own stories and their own memories with these items, or they’re passing them down, or they’re buying them as a gift.”
Pieces in Coker’s collection range from $14 to $320, per Walmart. Creighton Kiper, Walmart U.S.’s senior vice president of home, emphasized the importance of collaborating with creatives like Coker, who brings a cultural perspective and fresh designs.
“We are on a journey to democratize style, and our new Temi Coker collection is an exciting opportunity to bring his authentic perspective and bold, beautiful designs exclusively to Walmart customers,” Kiper said in a press release. “Partnering with artists and creators like Temi Coker allows us to uniquely deliver style and joy to every space, effortlessly and affordably.”
Temi Coker’s Journey Into Home Design
It all began in his shop, where Coker built his brand through items including posters, basketballs, jackets, and T-shirts. Encouraged by his wife, who believed his designs would look “cool” in a home, he expanded into home décor.
As he considered where the collection should live, the answer felt natural: the living room, he told AFROTECH™. Coker first designed a pillow. When he later shared it online, it sold out quickly — a clear sign that his audience was ready to bring his vision into their living spaces.
Because this was his first venture into home design, Coker had to shift his mindset. He moved beyond thinking like an entrepreneur focused solely on product and sales, and instead began asking deeper questions: How can these pieces tell stories? How can they reflect moments people recognize in their own lives? How can design feel personal?
“People buy stuff for the emotional attachment, but people also buy stuff for the memories they can create with it,” Coker told AFROTECH™.
Coker and his team created pieces using 3D printing and recycled materials — a decision that’s both practical and intentional. By working with recycled plastics instead of traditional ceramics, they produced more pieces while increasing durability. If a vase drops, it won’t shatter. Just as importantly, the process reduces waste and offers a more sustainable alternative in an industry often defined by excess.
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What’s Next For Temi Coker?
While his first home collection remains exclusive to Walmart, Coker has bigger ambitions. He hopes to expand into additional retail spaces — not just for future home collections, but also for pieces from his personal shop. But for now, the operation remains intimate.
“It’s me at the house with our shipping manager who helps me ship all the items, [and] my wife, who helps me take pictures,” Coker told AFROTECH™. “So we’re kind of doing a lot of stuff in-house, saving money until we can scale. But I think we’re getting there.”
As for what’s next, Coker is thinking expansively. He plans to launch a children’s line inspired by the kinds of pieces he wants to see his own kids reflected in. He hopes to place his artwork in physical spaces ranging from private homes to museums. And he’s aiming for more bold collaborations with leading brands, ideally even designing something for the NBA.
Most importantly, he said, “I will continue creating the type of work I want to see out there in the world.”
