Kojo Marfo
Biography
“I want people to see my work as a reflection of my Akan culture and my struggles living in the West. I want my artwork to create a connection with people, to be a symbol for everyone to relate to. No matter what you are going through, or where you live, I want my art to help people think and reflect on their inner lives and how it relates to the wider world." Kojo Marfo
Kojo Marfo (born 1980) is a Ghanaian artist based in London. Marfo developed his interest in art and visual culture through traditional Akan artifacts, sculptures and carvings that he was exposed to as a child growing up in Ghana. These artifacts still remain a vital source of strength for Marfo. He references traditional Akan art to highlight social issues, such as inequalities, religion, politics, and spiritualism. After travelling to New York and London, Marfo has developed a unique style that encompasses his wide range of influences in an effort to express his experiences and comment on society.
Marfo’s work seeks to re-establish the immense richness that is lacking in mainstream representations of African people. He hopes to explore a self-referential perspective of the Black image by creating figurative abstractions that showcase the beauty woven into Africa’s social and geographical fabric.
Works
Exhibitions
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Journeys – 'On Paper'
5 Jun - 13 Jul 2024JD Malat Gallery is thrilled to announce 'Journeys', an online exhibition showcasing nine artists' works on paper. The medium of paper serves as a vital bridge, seamlessly connecting the intangible...Read more -
Kojo Marfo: Crucible of Hope
11 Oct - 11 Nov 2023JD Malat Gallery proudly announces Kojo Marfo's exhibition 'Crucible of Hope', following his successful solo debut at the gallery two years ago. In parallel with Frieze Week, from 11th to...Read more -
Summer Exhibition 2023
10 Aug - 2 Sep 2023JD Malat Gallery is proud to present its Summer Exhibition of 2023 with works by Andy Moses, Ayanfe Olarinde, Andrew Litten, Conrad Jon Godly, Ed Moses, Emily Gillbanks, Erin Holly,...Read more -
Group Show: Past, Present, Future
11 May - 3 Jun 2023Opening just one month before the 5th anniversary of JD Malat Gallery, 'Past, Present, Future' brings together a carefully curated selection of artworks created between 2017 and 2023 by its...Read more -
Summer Exhibition 2022
25 Jul - 3 Sep 2022JD Malat Gallery is delighted to present its Summer Exhibition of 2022 featuring artworks by Andrew Litten, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Conrad Jon Godly, Zümrütoğlu, Georgia Dymock, Georg Óskar, Katrin...Read more -
Kojo Marfo: Gatekeepers of Heritage
4 May - 4 Jun 2022JD Malat Gallery is proud to announce the upcoming solo exhibition Gatekeepers of Heritage by London-based Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo. The show presents a vibrant new body of paintings, marking...Read more -
Kojo Marfo: Dreaming of Identity
10 Jun - 17 Jul 2021Dreaming of Identity presents a vibrant new body of work by Ghanaian artist, Kojo Marfo. Through a series of portraits entitled 'Strangers', and large-scale figurative abstractions depicting families, animals and...Read more -
ST MORITZ POP-UP
23 Dec 2020 - 11 Apr 2021JD Malat Gallery is proud to present its new pop-up space in the world's most unique Alpine Metropolis, St Moritz. From the 23rd of December 2020 to 31st of March...Read more
Press
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Fine Art Shippers: JD MALAT GALLERY OPENS THE VIBRANT CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION “HERE & NOW”
Fine Art Shippers , June 17, 2024 -
300 Magazine: Fluid Identities In The “Here & Now” Exhibition At JD Malat Gallery
Ilya , 300 Magazine , June 17, 2024 -
Ghanaian Artist Kojo Marfo’s Retrospective Arrives in Azerbaijan
Artnet, April 24, 2024 -
COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE: In the Studio with Artist Kojo Marfo
Getting to know the Ghanaian artist in his small South London studioCaitie Grove, Country & Town House, March 18, 2024
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Exploring Identity and Inspiration: An Interview with Kojo Marfo on his “Crucible of Hope” Exhibition
Africans Column, February 22, 2024 -
Heydar Aliyev Center hosts exhibition of Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo
News.az, February 15, 2024 -
Crucible of Hope by Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo in Istanbul
İlgili Haberler, DAMGA, February 14, 2024 -
Kojo Marfo is in Istanbul for the first time
Yorumlar BEĞEN, RE TOUCH Magazine, February 10, 2024 -
KOJO MARFO: REDEFINING PORTRAITURE
A Dance of Heritage and ModernityArt Plugged, October 16, 2023 -
ARTNET: 7 QUESTIONS FOR GHANAIAN ARTIST KOJO MARFO
The artist is the subject of a solo exhibition with JD Malat Gallery, London, opening this month.Annikka Olsen , Artnet, October 10, 2023 -
Kojo Marfo Exhibiting at Africa Supernova
The contemporary African painting collection of Carla and Pieter Schulting: on view at Kunsthal KAdE starting Sept. 24. -
EVENING STANDARD: KOJO MARFO, THE MAVERICK GHANAIAN ARTIST ON HIS NEW EXHIBITION, AND WHY TRUTH TRUMPS BEAUTY
Nancy Durant, Evening Standard, September 25, 2023 -
ART PLUGGED: KOJO MARFO – CRUCIBLE OF HOPE
Art Plugged, Art Plugged, September 20, 2023 -
MEXICO CITY’S ZONA MACO FAIR SHOWCASES AN ECLECTIC RANGE, FROM POIGNANT PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVOCATIVE TEXTILES
William Van Meter, Artnet, February 11, 2023 -
KOJO MARFO AT MAYFAIR SCULPTURE TRAIL 2022
June 20, 2022 -
HYPERALLERGIC: KOJO MARFO’S PORTRAITS DEPICT THE CRACKS IN POLITE SOCIETY
Hyperallergic, May 26, 2022 -
ARTLAND: STOLEN STORIES | INTERVIEW WITH GHANIAN ARTIST KOJO MARFO
Artland, December 11, 2021 -
COLLECTORS AGENDA: IN THE STUDIO | KOJO MARFO, LONDON
Collector's Agenda , November 15, 2021 -
CNN: 'MISFIT' GHANIAN ARTIST KOJO MARFO FINDS A HOME AMONG LONDON'S ELITE
Tom Bouchier Hayes and Rachel Wood, August 18, 2021 -
BBC: GHANA'S KOJO MARFO SELL-OUT SHOW
Andy Jones, July 13, 2021 -
ARTNET NEWS: GHANAIAN ARTIST KOJO MARFO PAINTS AN ‘UNREAL’ WORLD WHERE SHARED HUMAN HOPES AND DREAMS EMERGE
Artnet, June 9, 2021 -
METAL MAGAZINE: KOJO MARFO, A MIRROR TO SOCIETY
Metal Magazine, December 16, 2020 -
GQ – ARTIST KOJO MARFO ON HOW LOCKDOWN BREAKUPS INSPIRED HIM TO PAINT
GQ, September 8, 2020 -
KOJO MARFO IN ARTNET’S TOP 5 UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS
Artnet, July 7, 2020
Publications
Art Fairs
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ZONAMACO 2023
8 - 12 Feb 2023For ZONAMACO 2023, JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present a group exhibition of brand new works by four artists: Ghanaian Kojo Marfo, Turkish artist...Read more -
Contemporary Istanbul 2022
16 - 22 Sep 2022 -
artmonte-carlo 2022
14 - 16 Jul 2022 -
Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2021
21 Nov - 4 Dec 2021 -
Contemporary Istanbul 2021
5 - 10 Oct 2021JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present its group show for the 16th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, bringing together highly expressive works by the following...Read more -
Contemporary Istanbul 2020
19 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present a selection of works from Contemporary Istanbul OVR. Today we would like to tell you more about the...Read more
Video
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Kojo Marfo at The Heydar Aliyev Centre
March 1, 2024 -
Crucible of Hope by Kojo Marfo | A Film by STORYA
March 1, 2024 -
1 2 1 with Sascha Lilic and Kojo Marfo
March 15, 2023JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present the first episode of 1 2 1 with Sascha Lilic, featuring Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo. Watch the interview...Read more -
JD Malat Gallery & W1 Curates present Kojo Marfo on Oxford Street
January 5, 2022JD Malat Gallery is proud to collaborate with public art platform W1 Curates London to create a monumental display of the work of Ghanaian artist...Read more -
CNN’s Africa Avant-Garde featuring Kojo Marfo
July 29, 2021In the latest episode of Africa Avant-Garde, CNN International meets some of the continent's most experimental contemporary artists. Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo, features alongside Nigerian...Read more -
'Dreaming of Identity' by Kojo Marfo | Behind the scenes
June 18, 2021JD Malat Gallery is proud to present a behind the scenes documentary with the art historian and MA Art Business Programme Director at Sotheby's Institute...Read more -
Studio visit with Kojo Marfo
September 17, 2020JD Malat Gallery visited the studio of Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo to find out more about his practice and the inspiration behind his work.Read more