Efo Sela

The iconic black and white paintings of Efo Sela raises awareness of global issues on power, police brutality, identity, racism, conflict and deep human emotions. Sela paints distorted elongated figures in impasto, typically illustrating them in figure and ground composition often with red splashes and dripping accidental effects. He achieves this aesthetic signature style by applying expressive brushwork and gestural swirls of abstract figures on creamy backgrounds that creates a zebra-like pattern filled with optical illusions and multi-layered textures. Often typical of his iconic paintings, he creates accidental effects through splashing, splattering, dripping and soak staining techniques deeply rooted in Ewe spiritual art practices. His paintings reveals his deep interest in socio-political themes linked to hegemony, violence, protest, resistance and universal truths about human nature in a world with mounting intolerance. Efo Sela’s on-going series, Hunter Hunted (2017), Fragments (2020) Simulations (2021) and #EndSars (2022) reflects the recurring social problems in contemporary society back to us for introspection and deep contemplation. His works essentially aims at evoking basic human emotions in response to these social problems.

EFO SELA

Efo Sela is a multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and curator with degrees in communication design, and African art and culture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He received his PhD in African studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. His doctoral research examined Ewe Vodu art and Philosophy. Sela’s artistic research mainly focuses on decentering aesthetic canons and the integration of African art, philosophy, pedagogy and indigenous knowledge systems into modern art practices. Adjei’s artistic career spans a period of over 12 years. He has participated in over 25 exhibitions including 8 solo exhibitions. He has worked as a designer, researcher and art consultant for various publishing companies, art galleries, museums, universities and research institutes (including Übersee Museum, SubSaharan Publishers, MARKK, World Bank, Oxford University, Utrecht University, etc.). He has curated high profile exhibitions and art festivals (including the 2nd Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Intellectual and Cultural Festival at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon). Adjei’s works have been exhibited at the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial Centre in Accra, World Bank Office, Haverford College (Pennsylvania), East African Art Biennale, Museum of Science and Technology Accra) and Nkyinkyim Museum (Nuhalenya). Adjei’s on-going series, Hunter Hunted (2017), Black Power (2019), Fragments (2020), Zadokeli (2020), Simulations (2021) and #EndSars (2022) reflects the recurring social problems in contemporary society back to us for introspection and deep contemplation. His paintings essentially aims at evoking basic human emotions in response to these social problems. Efo Sela’s favourite pastime is drawing and illustrating children’s literature. His childhood passion for drawing his favorite storybook characters has led him to design and illustrate lots of children’s literature including Cinta Children’s Magazine, Ananse and the Corn Cob, The Phone Call (by Kofi Anyidoho) and several others. He works from Grin Studios in Lashibi (off the Baatsona-Spintex road in Accra, Ghana). Grin Studios is a creative start-up studio he founded in 2012 as part of his initiative to preserve and promote African Art and Culture through art exhibitions, children’s storybooks and academic publications. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Accra, Ghana.

  • Group Exhibitions East Africa Art Biennale 2017, Nafasi Art Space, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, November, 2017

    - Nairobi, Kenya 20th January – 28th January 2018. - Kampala, Uganda 2nd February – 8th February 2018. - Kigali, Rwanda 12th February – 18th February 2018. - Bujumbura, Burundi 22nd February – 28th February 2018.

    Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art. Shortlisted Artists Exhibition, The Octagon, Accra, March, 2017.

    Bologna International Book Fair, Bologna, Italy, April, 2013.

    Haverford College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, October, 2012.

    IBBY- International Congress, London, United Kingdom, August, 2012.

    Solo/Duo Exhibitions

    Zadokeli [Solo Exhibition] , Musuem of Science and Technology, Accra 25th May, 2023.

    Anagrams of History (Relief Mural): Nkyinkyim-Za Festival, Nkyinkyim Museum, Nuhale, Ada, 16th August, 2021.

    'Hunter Huntered': Narrating His(Tories) from our Perspective, Brazil House, Jamestown (Accra), Chaired by Dr. Obadele Kambon, February, 2017.

    Purple Harmattan Series + Lomnava Exhibition, Alliance Francaise D’accra Liberation Link Airport Residential Area, Accra, June, 2017)

    'Echoes from the Past', World Bank Office, Ridge – Accra, September, 2016.

    Usuthu! Usuthu!: A Response to Global Terrorism, Anti-Black Racism and Police Brutalities, Chopbar Restaurant, A&C Mall, East Legon, August, 2016. (With Kwame Akoto-Bamfo)

    Mandela: The Soul of his Earth, W.E.B Dubois Memorial Centre Accra, Cantoments, Chaired by Dr. Gyan Apenteng, December, 2015.

    Dinner and Art Exhibition held for Foreign Ambassadors in Ghana, Ghana National Theatre, Hosted by Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie (Dept. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts), October, 2015.

    'Dark Memories': Rethinking Neo-colonialism, Racism, Black Power and the African Renaissance Dream Through Art, W.E.B Dubois Memorial Centre Accra, Cantonments, Chaired by Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, September, 2015.

  • Curator — FACADES: Larry Otoo’s Retrospective Exhibition, 25th November 2022, Curator

    Curator — Kli-Adzima – Mama Vena Festival, Klikor, August, 2019.

    Lead Curator – Wiz Kudowor’s - WIZ, WIZ, and WIZ: Retrospective, Multiple Site Exhibition - Ano Gallery (Osu), Berj Gallery (Labone), Artists Alliance Gallery (Labadi), March 16 - May 16 , 2018.

    Lead Curator — CHALEWOTE STREET ART FESTIVAL, Jamestown (Accra), August, 2017.

    Curator — “KWAME NKRUMAH: THE SPIRIT” (2nd Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Intellectual and Cultural Festival. (With Bright Ackwerh, James Banor and Willis Bell). Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon. June, 2017.

    Curator — STORYMOJA Ghana Festival: One Blood One Story ''Creating a Smarter Africa'', W.E.B Dubois Memorial Centre Accra, Cantonments, September, 2016.

    Curator — Arts Alive Ghana 2016 (International Art Day Exhibition), Ghana National Theatre, organized by the Ministry ofTourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Chaired by Dr. Osei Agyemang, Accra, April, 2016.