ARTIST STATEMENT

During my childhood in Sunyani, Ghana's Bono Region capital city, I observed the challenges of individuals navigating street life. My parents owned a small thrift store selling second-hand clothing, and as I grew older, I started helping my father with his street business. Through this experience, I realized that Ghanaian society does not hold street people in high regard despite the hard work these individuals put into making a living.

Therefore, I aim to produce work that honors and respects the intricate stories woven into the everyday lives of my subjects. I create dynamic mixed-media works that blend figurative and text-based paintings with social documentary photography and video to spark dialogue on societal marginalization, identity, place, and labor, with a particular focus on Ghana’s sociocultural landscape. My practice also engages with the historical narrative of painting in a contemporary context, critically examining the portrayal of the Black figure and the concept of the other as subjects of representation. Beyond that, my landscape drawings depict the hustle and bustle of urban spaces, traffic flow, and movement of goods on the city streets of Ghana and connect me to the geographical origins of my subjects.

My art seeks to restore a sense of pride among underprivileged individuals. I aim for my work to inspire society to see marginalized people in a new light, fostering a renewed appreciation for their struggles and aspirations. Consequently, my efforts serve to underscore a sense of urgency and advocate for meaningful social reform.