Solomon Adufah

Region: Midwest

I was born and raised in Ghana, in West Africa, but currently reside in the United States. In my practice, I aim to create genuine and authentic portraits of people who make up the beautiful continent of Africa. The paintings expose viewers to a global perspective rather than a narrative meant to portray a single viewpoint. My work reflects the diversity and richness lost in the deceptive mainstream representations of the African people and explores a self-referential perspective on the Black image. I develop this group of portraits through a vital practice that requires physical engagement with the community and the desire to travel. My work allows for dialogues between America and Africa to emerge, reaching beyond cultural orthodoxy and reversing the traditions of Western globalization. I weave mixed media into the fabricated aesthetics of the portrait. I use a layering technique to combine African motifs in silkscreen and fabric. These materials become an anchored pillar that transcends the work through the everyday African cultural narrative.