Kojo Marfo: Gatekeepers of Heritage

May 3 - June 4, 2022

JD Malat Gallery is proud to announce the upcoming solo exhibition by London-based Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo. The show presents a vibrant new body of paintings, marking his return to the dynamic art scene in New York.

Born in Ghana, Marfo developed his interest in art and visual culture through the traditional Akan artifacts, sculptures and carvings that he was exposed to as a child. The distinctive figures in his paintings are inspired by the forms of Akan fertility dolls as well as other African carvings. The country’s flowers, textiles and colours, he says, flood his memory on a daily basis. The new works in the upcoming solo exhibition unveil the artist’s rich observations on his background and the different cultures he has encountered.

The upcoming solo exhibition will also provide an insight into Marfo’s imagination and his understanding of society and human nature. With block colours, strong shapes, twisted fingers, and the archaic gazes of his figures, Marfo gives the viewers his vibrant interpretation of the diverse narratives of different people he has encountered throughout his life.