No artist has truly captured the essence of modern gender representation through the African lens more poignantly than the self-taught artist, Hamid Nii Nortey.
Read MoreHis story begins in the bustling country of Ghana where he was born and raised in a traditional Ga ethnic multigenerational home. The multigenerational nature of his upbringing, especially rooted in strong Black female characters, has had the most profound impact on his life – deeply defining both his art and his identity.
From his inspiring The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born group exhibition in 2012 to his breathtaking 'Beauty in Diversity' solo series in 2020, Nortey has created a plethora of pieces depicting compelling figurative portrait paintings that redefine gender and sexuality in the most disruptive and thought-provoking way.
Ultimately, Nortey's paintings ignite an intriguing dialogue between the subject's message and the viewer, as he aims to capture the soul, substance and heritage of the human spirit. He also uses his art as an opportunity to lend the world a glance into the lives of people whose stories are yet to be told, all while triggering emotions of pride, honour and humour – it's a culmination of the stories of his life that words simply cannot explain.
First exhibition with Christopher Moller Gallery – 2021.
Text courtesy Christopher Moller Gallery.
