Freedom Rising: The Art of Owusu-Ankomah

Following the passing of the acclaimed artist Owusu-Ankomah in February of this year, October Gallery presents an exhibition of selected works from 2008 – 2014.

Freedom Rising: The Art of Owusu-Ankomah comprises intriguing large-scale paintings on canvas which depict an alternative world abounding with symbols and monumental human figures. Reflecting the artist’s own spiritual journey, the way in which these figures interact with the surrounding symbols has developed through several distinct phases over time.

Employing a studied trompe l’oeil effect, the powerful figures’ finely sculpted bodies are themselves covered in similarly painted glyphs. These cause the figures to melt into the background forest of signs, where the hidden figures move within a symbolic realm that surrounds, supports and inevitably defines them.

Originally, the accompanying signs were all derived from the adinkra symbol set embodying the traditional wisdom of the Akan people of Owusu-Ankomah’s native Ghana.