Ghana’s Thriving Art Scene Takes the Spotlight During Accra Cultural Week
A confluence of internationally acclaimed artists, an influx of art world tourists, and a booming gallery culture are catapulting Ghana’s art scene into the global spotlight. “Ghana is no longer just an emerging talent—it has arrived,” declares Marwan Zakhem, the founder of Gallery 1957. He acknowledges the scene’s nascent nature, with many talented artists still gaining recognition, but firmly places Ghana among the key players in the international art arena.
Evidence of Ghana’s Artistic Ascendancy
This year, Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo held his first European museum exhibition at The Belvedere in Vienna, underscoring the country’s creative influence. Renowned artists such as El Anatsui, Ablade Glover, Serge Attukwei Clottey, Gideon Appah, and Ibrahim Mahama have also staged solo exhibitions at prestigious venues worldwide.
In late October, Ghana welcomed over 200 prominent figures, including representatives from London’s Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sotheby’s, and the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, for the third annual Accra Cultural Week. Organized by Gallery 1957, this event offered guided tours of studios, galleries, and cultural landmarks across Accra, Cape Coast, and Tamale, fostering exposure and documentation of Ghanaian art. Zakhem highlights how this attention has created a sustainable platform for the local arts ecosystem, positioning Ghana as an essential player in global art.
Landmark Exhibition Explores Time Through African Diasporic Perspectives
A key highlight of the week was Keeping Time, curated by Ekow Eshun and Karon Hepburn, as a sequel to the 2023 show In and Out of Time. The exhibition reexamines time from the lens of the African diaspora, challenging Western-centric constructs of modernity and progress. Featuring works by artists such as Boafo, Elias Sime, and Michaela Yearwood-Dan, the show offers fresh interpretations of temporal experience. Eshun describes it as an exploration of alternative notions of time and a platform for artists to challenge traditional narratives.
A Booming Gallery Circuit
The growth of Ghana’s art ecosystem is further evidenced by a surge in galleries, now numbering around 24, including Compound House and Gallery Soview. These spaces champion experimental practices and provide platforms for emerging artists. Barbara Janvier of Gallery Soview notes that the proliferation of galleries has diversified opportunities for local collectors.
For instance, Compound House recently organized a solo exhibition for artist Jojo Abdallah, who has worked for over two decades while managing schizophrenia. This show, curated by Robin Riskin, has since toured to Tamale’s Red Clay Studio, broadening awareness of mental health through art.
Emerging Support for Creative Careers
While a notable increase in younger audiences engaging with exhibitions hasn’t yet translated into significant local sales, it has sparked a shift in perceptions of art as a viable career path. Prominent artists like Boafo and Kwesi Botchway are nurturing the next generation through initiatives such as Dot Ateliers and Worldfaze Studio and Residency.
As international visitors, such as Tate’s Gregor Muir, affirm the impact of Ghana’s growing art scene, the country’s cultural renaissance signals its importance not just within Africa but on the world stage.