Kennedy Museum of Art Acquires Two Recent and Remarkable Paintings by Bright Kontor Osei for Its Permanent Collection, Marking a Historic First for the Ghanaian Artist.
Two of my recent paintings, "Benedicta" and "Stephen," were acquired by the Kennedy Museum of Art on June 11, 2024. This achievement marks a significant step in my artistic journey and makes me feel that my future is full of exciting possibilities. A few years ago, I was in Ghana, contemplating the possibility of a day like this. I vividly recall my flight on the night of August 3, 2021, departing from Ghana to the U.S. to pursue my Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting + Drawing at Ohio University—my first time traveling outside my country of birth. Since then, I have developed a profound interest and understanding of art, art institutions, their missions, and the challenges one must navigate to succeed in this field.
Although my work is beginning to gain recognition, it is still early in my career. I do not want to get ahead of myself. I want to grow steadily because I have come to deeply appreciate the complexity of galleries and museums and the power they wield in preserving the legacy of artists. As an admirer of the Kennedy Museum in particular, I frequently visit to admire the remarkable works on display, dreaming that one day my work will be permanently exhibited there. Just one month after my graduation, my dream came true.
You might wonder how this all transpired so quickly. It began with an idea inspired by the Holy Spirit, who urged me to invite as many people as possible to my thesis show. As a Christian, I rely on the guidance of Jesus Christ, not on my understanding. By His grace, I dedicated significant effort to my research and work. In the summer of 2023, I traveled back to Ghana to conduct the fieldwork for my thesis show, made possible by the Student Enhancement Award Research grant I won.
Upon returning to the U.S. that fall, I immersed myself in creating quality work and committed to inviting as many people as possible, both acquaintances and strangers. With the support of my research committee member, Dr. Andrea Frohne, I extended invitations to Sally Delgado, Curator of Education at the Kennedy Museum of Art, and Lisa Quinn, Registrar at the Kennedy Museum of Art. Both attended my opening reception, and I established valuable contacts with them. Lisa Quinn became interested in my work and purchased a piece for her private collection. The Museum also showed interest and acquired my pieces through her and Sally's efforts.
It feels wonderful to know that a place I love reciprocates its appreciation. I am grateful for staying true to myself and my faith in God, who always makes things beautiful in His time. My dedication to scholarship is stronger than ever, and I am excited to teach in higher education and work with art galleries and museums.
©Images courtesy of the artist and the Kennedy Museum of Art.
