ANNAN AFFOTEY

Annan Affotey is a Ghanaian-born, Oxford-based artist whose richly textured portraits navigate the complexities of Black identity, emotion, and cultural memory. His figures, defined by vibrant dark skin tones and piercing red eyes, inhabit quiet, contemplative spaces that allow their stories to emerge without interruption. Affotey’s work is shaped by his experience living in Ghana, Europe, and the United States, and by the influence of powerful women in his life. A graduate of the Ghanatta College of Art and Design, he is also the founder of the African Young Artist Organization (AYAO), which supports emerging African creatives. Affotey’s portraits elevate everyday presence into something sacred, intimate, and defiantly seen.

YOUR PORTRAITS ARE BOTH INTIMATE AND ICONIC. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHO TO PAINT?

So before I start any piece, I try to go through several pictures and the picture that really speaks to me the most or strikes me the most is what I reckon. One reason why I pointed out is because I’ve known him for many years… I know his struggle, what he has been through.

YOU’VE MENTIONED YOUR SIGNATURE RED EYES IN THE PORTRAITS. WHAT INSPIRED THAT?

Growing up in Ghana, I’ve seen a lot of people with such eyes… when I moved to America in 2014… I would have a random person come to me and ask, “Are you OK? Why are your eyes red?”… My works are going to be speaking on my behalf and there are so many other people that also go through the same thing.

YOU OFTEN LEAVE PART OF THE CANVAS UNPAINTED. WHAT ROLE DOES THAT NEGATIVE SPACE PLAY?

The unpainted parts… I leave some parts unpainted, but most importantly, I paint one hand and then leave the other hand unpainted… It plays an imaginary role in your mind… You, the audience, become part of the artwork.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES LIVING IN GHANA, THE US, AND THE UK INFLUENCED YOUR PRACTICE?

Each place plays a role… In America, I was doing different techniques – abstracts, landscapes… Moving to the UK in 2019, everything changed during COVID. That’s when I started experimenting on this new body of works.

WHAT DOES THE USE OF TEAL IN YOUR COLOUR PALETTE REPRESENT TO YOU?

The teal is my past… it’s my colour scheme… from abstract to landscape, everything I use, you can tell.

Available works

THERE SEEMS TO BE A STRONG INFLUENCE OF WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE. HOW DOES THAT COME THROUGH IN YOUR WORK?

I have five sisters. I grew up around them. They are very strong and they helped take care of me growing up… They are people that encourage and inspire me a lot.

THERE’S A REAL EMOTIONAL HONESTY IN YOUR PORTRAITS. HOW INTENTIONAL IS THAT?

I’m a kind of shy person… I prefer my figures to look direct at the audience… I feel like they are looking direct in your soul.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH 4BYSIX?

I love doing things like this with organisations… I had a friend who has also done that before… when he told me about it, I was like yeah, it’s something I would love to do.

WHAT’S ONE STORY FROM YOUR CAREER THAT CAPTURES YOUR APPROACH TO ART?

I did a commission piece for Tommy Hilfiger. After I sent the piece, they said, “Oh, the painting is unfinished.” I said, “It’s done.” I had to send them a whole article because they didn’t research my work.