The growing phenomenon of art spaces within Accra makes Ghana one of Africa’s fast rising creative economies. We have curated a list of some of the most memorable and awe inspiring galleries within Ghana’s capital city and would like to share the highlights with you.
These are 10 of our favourite art galleries in Ghana:
Nubuke Foundation
Nubuke is the spot for admirers of authentic Ghanaian art in Accra. The road right next to Mensvic Hotel in East Legon leads to a stretch of land used for farming. You can find the Nubuke Foundation at the end of the left turn, opposite the farming area. The gates open to the African symbol-clad building; its interior has a maze of connected exhibition rooms, a screening room and a sizable compound with a manicured lawn, offering space to showcase and support the development of the visual and performing arts. Nubuke has, over time, built a network with other art and cultural institutions to provide a wider base for creative exchanges. Residencies and support of young curators, visual artists, architects, photographers, poets and designers at Nubuke keeps propelling the development of artistic practices in the country.
Artist Bernard Akoi at Nubuke Foundation, (c) Daniel Kerkhoff / Flickr
Currently, the Nubuke Foundation space in Accra deals mainly in exhibitions and performance events, and collaborates with a poetry group called Ehalakasa for a monthly open mic called the Talk Party, aside from the monthly Artists’ Concert for live music. Nubuke is also working on a project in Wa with the creative community, students and artists with textiles and clay. There is also interactive design mentoring and ingenious application of materials and techniques.
THE SAVANNAH CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
In Tamale, Ghana, the Savannah Center for Contemporary Art (SCCA) is an artist–run project space, exhibition and research centre, cultural repository, and a residency for artists.With its broad programming and research interests, the SCCA-Tamale team intends to focus on significant moments in Ghanaian art and international art as a communal space for art.
Nanoff Gallery
Nanoff Gallery is a space for intriguing sculptures made from old, discarded automobile parts, bicycle wheels and kitchenware that have exceeded their shelf lives. Nana Anoff, artist and owner of the space, explains that he got the inspiration for his work from his grandmother who always hoarded materials even after their first usability stages.
Steloolive in Performance at Nanoff Gallery,
About his artistic technique, Nana Anoff explains: “One thing [that] is waste could be someone else’s raw material. I am inspired by Ghanaian women a lot because they make Ghana what it is, and that motivates my art.” Nanoff Gallery is located at 69 Osu Badu, Street No. 12, Airport West Residential Area.
Kuenyehia
At the Kuenyehia space, you can see paintings, sculptures and illustrations made by young Ghanaian artists between the ages of 25 and 40. Kuenyehia also motivates practitioners of contemporary Ghanaian art with an annual art prize which is keenly contested for. Last year’s winner, Bright Ackwerh, emerged top of ten shortlisted artists with his work Tweaa Room: Confrontation. This year, Eric Gyamfi, Ama Diaka, Isaac Opoku, Sela Adjei, Priscilla Owusu Mensah, Theresa Ankomah, Samuel A. F. Ansong Kofi Jnr., Isaac Yeboah, Elsie Tachie-Menson and Andrew Torsu made it to the short list with illustrations, oil paintings, photography and installations.
NOLDOR RESIDENCY
The Noldor residency in Accra, Ghana, has been where artists from across Africa and its diaspora have been nurtured through their creative process while acting a pillar for their introduction and development to the Ghanaian and global contemporary art scene. In addition to being a place in which artists can develop their talents, the Noldor also collaborates with others in the arts, whether public or private and ranging from festival to gallery, to support and disseminate local contemporary creation.
Gallery 1957
Construction company owner and collector with a “curatorial focus”, Marwan Zakhem, opened Gallery 1957 on March 5, 2016, with Nana Oforiatta Ayim – debuting Nana Oforiatta Ayim’s My Mother’s Wardrobe. The exhibition had inspiring performances and an installation expo by artist Serge Attukwei Clottey; founder of Ghana’s GoLokal collective and Afrogallonism. The concept explored consumption within modern Africa through the use of yellow gallon containers. Gallery 1957 has further presented installations, exhibitions and performances by top Ghanaian contemporary artists. Gallery 1957 can be found at Kempinski Hotel on the Ministries Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue Ridge in Accra, Ghana.
Serge Attukwei at Gallery 1957, Photo Courtesy Artist
Art Without Borders Gallery
The Art Without Borders gallery launched seven years ago, enabling an art piece display space for artifacts from various parts of West Africa. There is a wide range of engaging art pieces for genuine art enthusiasts. The contemporary African art gallery showcases oils on canvas, crafts & sculptures in diverse materials: from bronze, bone and fibre-glass to stone and wood. Next To Sobamba Beach Resort, Art Without Borders Gallery can be found in Kokrobite, Accra.
Tiga African Art Consultancy
Tiga is owned by Lily Sefa-Boakye. She manages the gallery alongside her partner, conceptual and visual artist Nicholas Kowalski, who has been painting for 34 years. Beside a display of Kowalski’s art, the interior walls have large oil and acrylic works by Larry Otoo. Also, Seth Clottey, a daily life storyteller, has his boundary-pushing art installed at the space, alongside works by a handful of established artists.
The Loom
Frances Ademola’s The Loom is one of the oldest galleries in Accra, established in 1969, and is perfect for contemporary art lovers. There is a selection of several types of quality art pieces: paintings, beads, ceramics, copper wire and wood sculptures by Ghana’s highly acclaimed artists. The Loom is undoubtedly one of Ghana’s premier galleries with the works of over a hundred artists housed within the two-storey space.
Artists’ Alliance Gallery
The Labadi Beach which links Teshie to Osu has a beautiful stretch where the three-storey Artists’ Alliance building is situated. The exhibition space is one of the biggest in the country with content ranging from paintings, mixed media pieces, drums, wood and metal sculptures as well as installations. Colourful Ghanaian street life bursts from the seams of big canvases with inspired flair, depicting the trademark of legendary painter Ablade Glover. You can also find Paa Joe’s hand-painted fantasy coffins and several artifacts sourced from African traditional settings.