Lord Ohene Okyere-Bour, a leading artist within the emerging contemporary Ghanaian figurative and portraiture scene. Lord is a leading voice in a group of artists who have come through the revered Ghanatta College of Art and Design.
Within the vibrant movement of African portraiture, Lord found his own style in the implementation of contour layering in his work. Using oil pastels this technique transforms deep black voids on the canvas into faces alive with both expression and character, drawing the eye of the viewer with a gentle magnetic force.
The lines themselves suggest the topography of the Ghanaian landscape and the movements and cultural developments it has witnessed.
Usually incorporating a celebratory use of gold, in combination with other colours, through the lines on his faces Lord tells us of the paths his ancestors have followed.
Concentrating his focus onto a single subject, the muse who has inspired this new body of work, illustrates a sense of maturity and confidence that one would associate with an artist on the edge of a major career shift. It provides a strong link to the roots of the muse –originating in Greek mythology– and recontextualising modern Ghanaian painting as a robust presence within art history.
