Winner of 2018 Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art announced

At an awards event on Thursday, 26th April that saw competing works and other art by 12 shortlisted artists of the fourth season of the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art exhibited to an eclectic and attentive audience, Yaw Owusu emerged the ultimate winner of the 2018 Kuenyehia art prize with Comfort Arthur and Rosemary Esinam Damalie as 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up respectively.

This season saw a record increment in the total prize money from GHS25000 to GHS35,000 and an announcement by the co-chair of the Kuenyehia Trust, Thelma Tawiah that each shortlisted artist would receive a financial package of GHS5,000 by the kind courtesy of MTN foundation Ghana.

Special guest of honour, Larry Otoo, one of the most recognized and widely exhibited artists of his generation spoke about how Ghanaian art needed particular attention by all stakeholders both public and private. He made reference to the UK economy wherein 2017, it was estimated by the UK to Government that the creative industry contributed £91.8 billion to their economy and urged Ghanaians to invest in Ghanaian art

The 4th season jury chaired by artist, Madam Marigold Akufo-Addo included Kwaku Boafo Kissiedu; Art Educator, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(K.N.U.S.T.), Larry Otoo; artist, Nii Obodai; artist and Selassie Atadika; art collector, owner and Principal chef at Midunu

About the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art

The Kuenyehia Prize was established by Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia in 2014 to identify, reward and help develop outstanding Ghanaian artists between the ages of 25 and 40. The winners receive prize money, personal and business development and exposure via art fairs and exhibitions. The prize is managed by the Kuenyehia Trust for Contemporary Art, whose calendar year includes an annual thought leadership seminar, personal and business development for shortlisted artists and participation of selected shortlisted artists in intercontinental and international art fairs.

Kuenyehia Prize will now be biennial with the next one in 2020

About the Kuenyehia Prize: http://www.kuenyehiaprize.org/

More pictures are available in the photo section above