(1956 – 2021), Ghana

Atta Kwami Biography

Atta Kwami (b. 1956, Accra, Ghana, d. 2021, UK) was a distinguished artist, art historian and curator, living and working between the UK and his home country, Ghana. His colourful works of vibrant geometric patterns are inspired by a wide range of influences, from Ewe and Assante cloth to jazz, the tradition of mural painting and the design of street kiosks along the roads of West-African towns. Kwami is known for expanding the notions of painting, basing his practice both in the visual world of his native Ghana and in reflections on modernism.

Read More

Atta Kwami studied, and later taught at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). In 2007, Kwami received a PhD in art history, now published as _Kumasi Realism, 1951-2007: An African Modernism, in which he sought to explore past and present influences on West African art, with an emphasis on street art traditions throughout Kumasi, Ghana.

In 2021, the year he died, he was awarded the prestigious Maria Lassnig prize, which recognised later career artists deserving wider career recognition, and, in 2022, The Serpentine unveiled the final public mural commission by Kwami, 'DzidzƆ kple amenuveve (Joy and Grace)', which remains on view until September 2024.

This Spring, the Serpentine will publish a monograph about Kwami with Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Köln supported by The Maria Lassnig Foundation and marking the first publication dedicated to examining the breadth of Kwami's singular practice.

Kwami's work is included in major collections around the world, including the National Museums of Ghana and Kenya; the V&A Museum, London; the National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York.

Atta Kwami
featured artworks

View 2 More
Beghoi by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Beghoi, 2019 Acrylic on canvas
50.5 x 50.8 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Untitled 6 by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Untitled 6, c. 1999 Oil on Canvas
129 x 200 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Untitled 3 by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Untitled 3, 1999 Acrylic on calico
207 x 130 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Yibor Square by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Yibor Square, 2018 Oil on linen
37.3 x 54 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Susuka 2 by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Susuka 2, 2010 Acrylic on Canvas
55.5 x 67 cm
Sold
Goodman Gallery
Untitled 4 by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Untitled 4, 2021 Acrylic on Linen
90.5 x 61.5 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Amu by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Amu, 2012 Acrylic on linen
195 x 114.3 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
Untitled 1 by Atta Kwami contemporary artwork painting
Atta Kwami Untitled 1, TBC Acrylic on calico
129 x 166 cm
Goodman Gallery Request Price & Availability
View 2 More

Atta Kwami
current & recent
exhibitions

View 2 More
View 2 More

Represented by this
Ocula Member Gallery

Goodman Gallery contemporary art gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa
Goodman Gallery London, Johannesburg, Cape Town
View 2 More
Learn more about the market for works
by Atta Kwami.
Enquire for a confidential discussion. Enquire Now
Simon Fisher, Ocula CEO
Ocula Advisor
Simon Fisher
Eva Fuchs, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Eva Fuchs
Rory Mitchell, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Rory Mitchell

Atta Kwami in
Ocula Advisory

Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Follow Atta Kwami
Stay ahead.
Receive updates on new artworks,
exhibitions and articles.
Your personal data is held in accordance with our privacy policy.
Follow
Do you have an Ocula account?
Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Get Access
Join Ocula to request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Do you have an Ocula account? Login
What best describes your interest in art?

Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming exhibitions, available works, events and more.
By clicking Sign Up or Continue with Facebook or Google, you agree to Ocula's Terms & Conditions. Your personal data is held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for joining us. Just one more thing...
Soon you will receive an email asking you to complete registration. If you do not receive it then you can check and edit the email address you entered.
Close
Thank you for joining us.
You can now request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Close
Welcome back to Ocula
Enter your email address and password below to login.
Reset Password
Enter your email address to receive a password reset link.
Reset Link Sent
We have sent you an email containing a link to reset your password. Simply click the link and enter your new password to complete this process.
Login