Kwame Akoto's First Major French Exhibition at Musée du quai Branly
Kwame Akoto's 'Almighty God Art Works' at Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris is his first major French exhibition, running until 6 September 2026. The Ghanaian painter, known for signboard works blending bold imagery and urgent text, discusses how his pieces shift from everyday communication in Kumasi to objects of interpretation in a European museum. He views authorship as shared rather than fixed, rooted in faith and community. Language in his work carries moral messages that, while culturally specific in Ghana, convey tone and urgency cross-culturally. Akoto sees labels like 'popular painting' or 'outsider art' as promoting curiosity. He presents his work within an institution shaped by colonial collecting histories as a way to promote African heritage. He aims for his paintings to be both aesthetically pleasing and morally instructive, inviting viewers to move between visual engagement and reflection. The exhibition challenges simplified views of Ghanaian visual culture, showing it as layered and evolving.
Key facts
- First major French exhibition for Kwame Akoto at Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac.
- Exhibition titled 'Almighty God Art Works' runs until 6 September 2026.
- Akoto's signboard paintings shift from street communication in Kumasi to interpretive objects in a museum context.
- He views authorship as shared and collective, not individualistic.
- Language in his work carries moral messages that resonate cross-culturally through tone and urgency.
- Labels like 'popular painting' and 'outsider art' promote curiosity about his practice.
- Presenting in a colonial-influenced institution is a way to promote African heritage.
- Akoto wants his paintings to be aesthetically pleasing and convey moral messages for a better world.
Entities
Artists
- Kwame Akoto
Institutions
- Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Kumasi
- Ghana