Afia Prempeh

b. 1986, Ghana

Drawing on art historical, political and personal references, Afia Prempeh creates densely layered figurative compositions that, precise in style, nonetheless conjure the complexity of contemporary experience. Her works reference both national Ghanaian traditions and current contemporary life to create a multifaceted perspective.

Afia Prempeh's large scale paintings are reflective self-examinations. While realistically rendered, they explore the world of the unreal - of our dreams and aspirations. They highlight the psychological connections to one's past and future. The new role of contemporary women is strongly emphasized in their professional aspirations portrayed in paintings' details - an art palette of an artist or a computer and a business suit. Her women are looking forward to a bright future in the professional field and know their own self-worth.

Afia Prempeh was born in Kumasi, Ghana. She earned her bachelor's degree in painting from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T) in 2009. Prempeh's works have been exhibited at the National Museum of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana. She was the artist in residence and had a subsequent solo show at the 1957 Gallery in 2021.