Bio and statement
Artist Statement
I aim to build a more inclusive world, change stereotypes, and give a voice to the voiceless.
Born in Ghana in 1990, I began as a portrait artist right after High school to sustain my craft
and in 2012 I became a studio artist for Samsung Ghana. I then turned to make figurative abstract
paintings in acrylic on Canvas, I developed a distinctive pointillist style and blending technique
that exudes a realistic and dimensional quality and was included in the Paint Sculpt annual jury
exhibition at Takoradi Technical University, Ghana, 2015.
The painting technique evolved through my personal experience of having a traditional animist
priest as a father and a Christian mother sharing the same bed peacefully which is an example of
two like-poles meeting as the media in Ghana has influenced many Ghanaian to demonize the
indigenous practices and is gradually fading away. After some observations and education, I
understood how important it is to preserve the heritage and great knowledge behind these practices
which led to this exploration of bringing them inside my painting. I also notice how we are
separating from nature due to an unnatural way of life causing unnatural diseases psychological
diseases, behavioral patterns, and health habits.
Wearing dreadlocks has exposed me to hidden tragedies one wouldn't believe exist as it is subjected
to people with mental illness, drug addiction, or violence. The use of simmering spots of colors in
my paintings is to show how beautiful people with differences, cultures, and races, can coexist in a
society. Adowa being one of the first to exhibit highlights the Asante culture as is where I was born
and raised.
Most of my colleagues gave up the dream to become artists and focused on pursuing something else
in other to survive as the government funding for arts and culture stays within the tourism board and
music. I turned myself into an entrepreneur to keep me going finding ways to sell my art and at the
same time exploring different mediums. I had my first camera to document my paintings as I saw
how important it was to have a documentation. As an artist with little knowledge in photography I
was finding it difficulty to film my works as I wanted. I Made my first experiments filming friends
and capturing exhibition spaces I chanced upon including Alliance Francaise. 2019 I volunteered as
a photographer in a residency space to document the work of artists from Ghana and across the globe.
I began to make a series of 'Duration Pieces' 'Variable Pieces' and 'Location Pieces' by treating everyday
activities in such a way as to produce documentation in the form of photographs, paintings,
performances, and, videos while studying BA Art Education at UEW Winneba majoring Painting.
Following this, I've been invited to document Rencontre de Bamako 2019, Mali along with Blaxtar lines,
Havana Biennial 2021 Cuba with High Chief Nathaniel Styles, I explored the indigenous traditions of
the Orishas and I transformed them onto the canvas which was exhibited in the African House Museum
along with Natalia Bolivar in January 2022 to honor Salvadore Gonzalez, later shown in Barry University
Athletics USA June 2022, and Biennale Matter of Art 2022 Prague I documented the work and life of
Arnost Goldflam who is a writer and filmmaker during my stay in Prague I got attracted to a particular
park in IP Pavlova which inspired my new body of work mitigating climate change which reflects in my
spiritual belief.
Onsoh calls himself a plethora because of his indecisive multidisciplinary artistic attitude. He is known for photography, Videography, Performance, Painting and Sculpture.
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