Född i London 1962, uppvuxen i Lagos. I dag bosatt och verksam i London.

1984–1989 Byam Shaw School of Art, London
1989–1991 MFA, Goldsmiths College, London

2002 documenta XI, Kassel, kurator Okwui Enwezor
2003 Fellow, Goldsmiths College, London
2004 Nominerad till Turner-priset, Tate Britain, London
2004 IASPIS, The International Artists’ Studio Program in Stockholm
2004 Vasa, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
2004 Filmen Un Ballo in Maschera, Moderna Museet och SVT Stockholm
2005 Member of the most excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
2007 52:a Venedigbiennalen
2007 Hedersdoktor, Huron University i Ontario
2009 Grundade ”Guest Projects”, Artist Recidency Project Space in London
2010 Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle, the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London
2010 Hedersdoktor, the Royal College of Art, London
2012 Fellow, University of the Arts, London
2013 Royal Academician, the Royal Academy of Arts, London
2016 African Art Award, National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C.
2019 Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
2019 Grundade Yinka Shonibare Foundation och Guest Artists Space Foundation in Lagos
2020 Robson Orr TenTen Award, London
2021 Art Icon Award, Whitechapel Gallery, London.

Fullständig biografi finns här (länken öppnas i nytt fönster)