Born in Ghana in 1990, Emmanuel Manu Opoku brings a fresh touch to experimental art styles from the past with his paintings powered by vibrant colors from his homeland and sculptures that give new use to everyday items from here in the United States.
It’s a great combination.
“When I studied art in Ghana, I was exposed to African art and global art concepts focusing on western art prac- tices,” Opoku said. “My work therefore currently involves Ghanaian cultural elements and draws inspiration from western art.”
Opoku benefited from early support and feedback for his art. “At a younger age, my parents used to show my drawings to friends and family that visited our home,” he explained. “The fascinations and compliments by my high school visual art teachers made me decide to be an artist. I then started to covet success in the field of art.”
He explored experimental painting in Ghana, attending the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he received a BFA in Painting in 2015. But, after Opoku was offered the opportunity to pursue his MFA in Sculpture at the University of Florida, he developed an interest in themes of diaspora after thorough research towards his sculpture thesis exhibition, which “led to my symbolic portraiture with objects.”
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