Bright Kontor Osei takes to the streets of his hometown, Sunyani, to engage with and capture the essence of the local street community. He celebrates the people and their spaces by immortalizing them through his paintings and drawings.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create work that celebrates and honors the intricate stories woven into the everyday lives of street people. Growing up in Sunyani, the capital of Ghana’s Bono Region, I witnessed the rhythms and struggles of those navigating street life — roadside vendors balancing goods on their heads, sellers at car stations, and countless others moving tirelessly to put food on their tables. From a young age, I accompanied my father to his small thrift store, where I learned firsthand the value of honest work. These experiences deepened my empathy for people whose lives mirrored my own, drawing my attention to the dignity and perseverance that often go unnoticed in everyday life.

Guided by this understanding, I bring the streets to life through dynamic mixed-media works that blend figurative and text-based paintings, landscape drawings, documentary photography, and video. I aim to capture the vibrant colors, constant movement, and layered stories of Ghana’s street environments, sparking dialogue on identity, place, labor, and societal marginalization. In doing so, I aim to restore pride and visibility to underrepresented individuals, inviting society to recognize them not only for their struggles but also for their resilience, dignity, and aspirations.