Produced by Gagosian and presented by the National Archaeological Museums of Venice and the Lagoon, Amoako Boafo’s first solo exhibition in Italy forms part of the Museo di Palazzo Grimani’s ongoing programme dedicated to the dialogue between contemporary art and historical context. The works on view engage closely with the palace’s Renaissance architecture and with the Venetian tradition of portraiture, activating a reflection on space, representation, and the continuity of figurative languages.

Amoako Boafo was born in 1984 in Accra, Ghana, where he lives and works. His painterly practice reconsiders the genre of portraiture as a device for affirming identity and presence. Through a direct gesture achieved by manipulating pigment with his fingers, the artist makes the creative process visible and endows his figures with strong physical and psychological intensity. After moving to Vienna in 2013, he co-founded the space WE DEY with Sunanda Mesquita, dedicated to supporting Black and LGBTQ+ artists. His research focuses on the representation of Black subjects, often underrepresented, restoring their individuality, confidence, and expressive power.

Featured image: Amoako Boafo – Ph. Nii Odzenma