Adjei Tawiah
Biography
Adjei Tawiah (b. 1987, Ghana) is a contemporary artist based in Accra, where he lives and works. A graduate of Ghanatta College of Art and Design, Tawiah has gained recognition for his deeply personal and inventive practice, which he terms “Sponge Martial”—a method using nylon sponge to create textured, vividly coloured figurative compositions. His technique is rooted in an intimate ritual: cleansing his mother’s body at the mortuary, an experience that profoundly shaped his approach to artmaking. Through bold palettes and striking portraits, Tawiah channels this act of purification to evoke emotional and spiritual renewal, offering art as a balm in times of grief and affliction.
His most recent work celebrates themes of community, kinship, and remembrance, using a minimalist but potent visual language.. Floral motifs drawn from his mother’s funeral recur throughout his compositions, symbolising both life’s transient beauty and acts of commemoration. These elements, fused with his distinctive technique, imbue his work with a timeless and poignant emotional resonance.
Tawiah’s rise in the international art scene has been swift and impactful. He held his debut solo exhibition at Gallery 1957 in London in 2022 and has since exhibited in New York and Los Angeles, including Self-Addressed, curated by Kehinde Wiley. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Flash Art, The New York Times, and FAD Magazine, affirming his growing reputation. With collectors and institutions increasingly drawn to his practice, Tawiah is becoming a notable voice in contemporary African art, with a market that is both emerging and gaining liquidity.