Ibrahim Mahama Tops ArtReview's 2025 Power 100 List, Discusses Postcolonial Architecture and Biennale Projects

Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has been ranked first on ArtReview's 2025 Power 100 list. He creates large-scale installations using materials like jute sacks, colonial-era railway sleepers, and other industrial remnants that reference Ghana's colonial history and labor conditions. Mahama's work explores themes of postcolonial architecture, labor, and the circulation of goods. He is preparing for upcoming presentations at both the Kochi Muziris Biennale in India and the Venice Biennale in Italy. The artist operates from his studio in Tamale, Ghana, where he employs numerous local artisans and collaborators. Mahama views power not as visibility but as the ability to build physical and social structures. His practice involves transforming discarded materials into monumental artworks that critique global economic systems. The recognition on the Power 100 list highlights his significant influence in contemporary art.