KUENYEHIA PRIZE 2016 ANNOUNCES FINALISTS: LIST MIGHT SURPRISE YOU!

The Kuenyehia Prize was established by Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia in 2014 with the main objective of identifying, rewarding and promoting Ghana’s most outstanding artists between the ages of 25 and 40. In addition to prize money and materials totaling up to twenty five thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 25,000), one winner and two runners-up get to benefit from business training and coaching. This year’s jury panel was chaired by Prof. El Anatsui.

One ultimate winner and two runners-up will be selected to share the GHS 25,000 prize money tonight!

Exhibition of the works of the ten finalists is currently ongoing at the pop-up gallery:
F53/7, Emmause Lane, Off 2nd Labone Street, Opposite Law Institute (End of Celsbridge Rd), Labone Accra. Tonight, make a date with the distinguished Golden lion award winning artist- Professor Emeritus El Anatsui.

The shortlisted artists of last year’s edition were Isaac Addico, Negyem Adono, Charles Agbetsoamedo, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Gideon Appah, Kwadwo Boateng Asare, Kelvin Haizel, Isshaq Ismail, Ian Kwakye and Michael Lokko. The works of the shortlisted artists were exhibited at Nubuke Foundation, Accra from March 1 to March 31, 2015 and the winner; Kwame Akoto-Bamfo was announced at a grand event on April 2, 2015.

The panel of judges for 2015 comprised of Florence Benson; a leading promoter and collector of West African Art, Godfried Donkor; a London-based artist who represented Ghana at the prestigious Venice Biennale, Rikki Womegah Kwahu; artist and lecturer at Takoradi Polytechnic, Charlotte Langhost; art historian and curator as well as Constance Swaniker; sculptor and Managing Director of Accents & Arts.

Chairperson Ms. Swaniker chipped in a very important message; “Ghana desperately needs such a platform on which undiscovered talent can leverage, in exposing them to exciting events in today’s art scene.”

In no particular order, the 2016 finalists and the respective descriptions of their works could be found below:
Setor Fiadzigbey
Lost Sci-fi
Digital print on artcard
16″ x 11″

Sefa Nkansa
Two Boys And The Volta
Ink dye print on lustre paper
33″ x 24″

Peter Schaub-Nzoley
Kayayei Silent Slumber
Watercolour on paper
13″ x 10″

Enam Bosokah
Ametsitsi
Ink on paper
16″ x 12″
Mustapha Mohammed
Veiled Woman
Pastel on paper
28″ x 20″

Gorden Kegya
Sweet Heart
Tradigital print on canvas
22″ x 22″

Maxwell Boadi
Exodus
Acrylic on canvas
36″ x 28″

Bright Ackwerh
Tweaa Room : Confrontation
Digital print on blueback paper
23″ x 17″

Deryk Owusu Bempah
Blackstar Square
Large format print on blueback paper
72″ x 48″

Isshaq Ismail
Mood
Acrylic on canvas
40″ x 40″

Follow news about the award via the hashtag: #KuenyehiaPrize2016