Gideon Appah

Gideon Appah (b. 1987, Accra, Ghana) is a celebrated contemporary painter whose jewel-toned, dreamlike works draw on childhood memories, West African landscapes and popular culture. Appah’s art reflects the daily life, mythology and postcolonial history of Ghana, blending personal and communal narratives with stylistic influences from portraiture and Fauvism. His works incorporate recurring figures, domestic interiors and landscapes rendered in royal blues, crimsons and oranges, often layered over collaged materials like posters, photographs and film stills.

 

Appah’s early use of charcoal, inspired by his grandmother, evolved into vibrant compositions that archive life in Accra through references to family occupations and local culture, such as barbershops and tailoring. His process involves priming canvases, transferring images using glue and carving out forms before applying thick, textured layers of paint. Recent works feature flattened perspectives and rich palettes to evoke nostalgia, folklore and the visual language of Ghanaian post-independence cinema and nightlife.

 

Appah’s career has included major exhibitions at the Institute for Contemporary Art in Virginia, Milan Triennale, Mitchell-Innes & Nash in New York and Pace Gallery in Seoul and London. His works are held in prestigious collections such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden and the Absa Museum. Recognized as a leading artist of his generation, Appah continues to create evocative scenes that intertwine personal history with Ghana’s cultural legacy, earning accolades such as the Barclays L’Atelier Merit Prize and a residency at Bag Factory Studios. He lives and works in Accra, Ghana.