Prince Gyasi

Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi (born 30 April 1995) also known by the artist name Prince Gyasi is a Ghanaian international visual artist.[1] He is the co-founder of Boxedkids, a non-profit organization helping kids from Accra get an education.[2][3]

Prince Gyasi
Portrait of Prince Gyasi.
Born
Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi

(1995-04-30) 30 April 1995
Accra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Alma materAccra Academy Senior High School
Known forVisual art, photography

Early life

Gyasi had his secondary education at the Accra Academy senior high school in Accra.

Career

Gyasi started taking pictures in 2011 and bought his first iPhone in 2014 which is the primary tool he uses in creating his art pieces.[4] He began with snapshots of friends, family and models from his hometown of Ghana and then realized he could seriously use his phone as an arts creation tool, as a means of expression.[5]

He using an iPhone to shoot is a way to distinguish his art from other visual artists and photographers to break the codes of this singular and elitist art. His work is all about conveying feelings through colors and giving the floor to the people that are left aside from the society.[6] He indeed considers his use of colors as a source of therapy to his audience. Motherhood, Fatherhood, childhood can be considered as his most characteristic themes.[7]

Exhibition

Prince Gyasi was signed to Nil Gallery Paris in 2018 which gave him the chance to exhibit his art pieces at multiple art fairs in the USA.[8]

He has exhibited in the Seattle Contemporary Art fair, Texas Contemporary Art Fair,[9] Artsy & Context Art Miami and pulse Contemporary Art Fair (Art Basel Miami).[10] Prince has also exhibited some of his works at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in South Africa.[11] He exhibited at the Paris Photo at the Grand Palais Ephémère for the first time in November 11 to 14 of 2021.[12]

KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival

Prince was the leading artist for the 10th anniversary of the KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival.[13] His solo show took place in a three-storey building in Kyoto, entirely devoted to his work.[14]

Group Show at the Museo de Arte do Rio

Prince's works also got featured in the Group exhibition "Um defeito de cor" at the Museo de Arte do Rio from September 10th, 2022 until May 21st, 2023.[15]

Collaborations

A Great Day In Accra

In December 2018, he got commissioned by Apple Inc. to work on a project in Ghana titled A Great Day In Accra to push the Hiplife music genre in Ghana to the world.[16] In this project he shot Ghanaian hiplife musicians like Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Reggie Rockstone, Okyeame Kwame, Rab Bakari, Abrewa Nana, Hammer of The Last Two, Beat Menace, Gurunkz, Joey B, EL (rapper), DJ Breezy, Stargo, Kirani Ayat, Akan (Musician), Kiddblack, Ansah Live, Imani N.A.D, Toyboi, Kwesi Arthur and Shadow.[17][18]

GQ Summer/Spring Issue 2020

In December 2019, Prince got commissioned by GQ Style to shoot Burna Boy for their Summer/Spring Issue 2020 in Ikoyi, Lagos. The shoot was titled "Global Giant" because of the release of Burna's album "African Giant".[19][20]

Off-White Collaboration

Prince was featured in Virgil Abloh’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection Off-White brand which premiered in February on Imaginary TV. He performed alongside Virgil Abloh’s new creative cast; Milanese choreographer, Michele Rizzo and Japanese DJ, Kiri Okuyama, all rocking apparel from the brands new line.

Prince also modeled the new Off-White SS21 collection which was featured on Farfetch in March 2021.[21]

Naomi Campbell for Madame Figaro

In 26 March 2021, Prince got commissioned by Madame Figaro France to shoot Naomi Campbell for the cover image of that issue. The shoot was styled by Jenke Ahmed Tailly and was shot in Lagos during Arise Fashion Week.[22]

GQ Magazine October Issue

In September 2021, Prince was commissioned by GQ Magazine to shoot Wizkid for its October issue in Accra, Ghana. Wizkid was crowned “King of Afropop” by GQ Magazine after this shoot which was styled by Karen Binns.[23]

Pirelli 60th Anniversary Calendar

In 2024, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Cal, he became the first Black photographer to produce an edition of the calendar.[24] In this issue Prince shot the following people for The Cal, they are Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, Naomi Campbell, Margot Lee Shetterly, Angela Bassett, Amanda Gorman, Tiwa Savage, Idris Elba, Jeymes Samuel, Amoako Boafo, Teyana Taylor and Marcel Desailly.[25][26]

Collections

Gyasi in March 2022 art works entered the Jean Pigozzi's art collections,[27] the collections of François Pinault Art Foundation. La Fab (the Agnes b. Art Foundation) acquired and integrated his works into a group exhibition curated and presented by Agnès b.. The exhibition entitled "L'enfance dans la collection Agnès b." was dedicated to childhood and was held from February 24th to June 30th, 2022 at La Fab, in Paris. In July 12th to August 21st, his works was integrated into the group show Bande-Annonce an exhibition held at the Pole of Contemporary Art of Cannes featuring part of Jean Pigozzi's collection of contemporary African art.[28]

Art Market

Gyasi is currently represented by Maāt Gallery and was previously with Nil Gallery in Paris, France. In 2022, his Power of Choice (2021) sold for EUR 20,160 at Christie's in Londres, Somerset House. His Symbols of Womanhood (2018) sold for GBP 11,340 at Christie's and his work The Arrival sold for EUR 44,100 at Phillips auction.

Recognitions
  • He was mentioned by Vanity Fair as one of the top 9 visual artist to follow in 2018.[29]
  • Prince Gyasi was part of five black photographers interviewed by Good Morning America to speak about their work and about Vogue's historic cover with Beyoncé.[30]
  • Prince Gyasi has been featured on the BBC Africa for his exceptional way of making images with his iPhone.[31]
  • Prince has also been featured by CNN style as one of the seven leading African photographers from across the continent.[32]
  • Prince was featured again by CNN on how his work turns to color therapy for a lot of his followers. The article also mentioned how Prince was one of the most sort after artist on the art marketplace Artsy moving from 54th to 2nd place in 2020.[33]
  • Prince's art pieces offered at fairs on Artsy in 2021 has had the greatest number of collectors inquiring about them than any artist on the platform.[34]
  • Prince was also recognized in 2023 as a Time's Next Generation Leader for his work around visual arts.[35]

Speaking engagements

2019 Skoll World Forum

Prince Gyasi was invited on 9 April 2019 to give a speech about his creative works during the 2019 Skoll World Forum at the Oxford University in London. During his speech he spoke about the stories behind his work of arts and his influences. He also spoke about his non-profit organization Boxed kids which he co-founded.[36]


References
  1. "The Colour of Hope". www.magzter.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  2. "Prince Gyasi Photographs The Colors, Faces And Spirit Of Ghana". IGNANT. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  3. "Avec son téléphone, Prince Gyasi documente avec talent le quotidien ghanéen". Cheese - The big picture by Konbini (in French). 7 September 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. Online, Peace FM. "Prince Gyasi; Ghanaian Visual Artist Collaborates With Apple To Project Hiplife Genre". peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. "Hiplife Music highlighted in new Apple Music project by Ghanaian Photographer". Live 91.9 FM. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. "Prince Gyasi". nataal.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  7. America, Good Morning. "5 black photographers reflect on their art, Vogue's history-making Beyoncé cover". Good Morning America. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. "Nil Gallery - Texas Contemporary 2018". Texas Contemporary. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  9. "CONTROL: IDENTITY, POWER AND RESISTANCE". AFROPUNK. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  10. "2018 | All Exhibitors". pulseartfair.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  11. "Ghanaian visual artist Prince Gyasi for Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2019". Citi Newsroom. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  12. "Paris Photo 2021 : 5 jeunes talents de la photographie à découvrir absolument". Numéro Magazine (in French). Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  13. "Kyoto spring: the finest Japanese and world photography – in pictures". the Guardian. 7 April 2022. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  14. Henderstein, Lance (26 April 2022). "Kyotographie's 10th edition spotlights female artists in Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  15. "Um Defeito de Cor". C& AMÉRICA LATINA. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  16. "Sarkodie, Obrafour, Edem, others featured in Apple Music's Hiplife Essentials playlist". Entertainment. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  17. "Visual Artist Prince Gyasi Gathers Ghana's Hiplife Greats in 'A Great Day In Accra' Photo Series". OkayAfrica. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  18. "Reggie Rockstone, Kwesi Arthur, Joey B, others featured in Apple Music's new documentary". Entertainment. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  19. "A look at Burna Boy's N11M worth of fashion items in his latest GQ feature". Pulse Nigeria. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. "Burna Boy Covers The Spring/Summer Issue of GQ Style". P.M. News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  21. Ghana, News. "Prince Gyasi joins Off-White's new creative cast | News Ghana". newsghana.com.gh/. Retrieved 20 September 2021. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  22. "Naomi Campbell's African Odyssey by Prince Gyasi for Madame Figaro March 26, 2021". Anne of Carversville. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  23. Badewa, Collins (16 September 2021). "Wizkid Is Crowned The King Of Afropop As He Features In GQ Magazine's October 2021 Issue + His Top 3 Reveals". Style Rave. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  24. Baron, Katie. "Pirelli Enlists Prince Gyasi For Radically Reincarnated 50th Calendar". Forbes. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  25. Paton, Elizabeth (6 September 2023). "A Landmark Year for a Rare Calendar". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  26. Dazed (30 June 2023). "Prince Gyasi is the first Black photographer to shoot the Pirelli calendar". Dazed. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  27. "Ghanaian Photographer Prince Gyasi Chosen to Capture the 2024 Pirelli Calendar - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  28. "Explore Bande Annonce - La Collection Pigozzi - à Cannes 12 July - 21 August 2022 in 3D". mpembed. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  29. "Prince Gyasi: The face behind Apple's latest project "A Great Day In Accra"". Proudly Ghanaian! | EnewsGH. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  30. "5 black photographers reflect on their art and Tyler Mitchell's history-making Vogue cover". ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  31. "Accra's Instagram artist on capturing life". BBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  32. Rosado, Ana (29 April 2019). "Experts name top African photographers across the continent". CNN Style. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  33. Rebecca Cairns. "How synesthesia helps artist Prince Gyasi turn his work into 'color therapy'". CNN. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  34. Felsberg, Kaylie (13 August 2021). "Behind Prince Gyasi's Rapid Rise in the Art Market and Beyond". Artsy. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  35. "The Visual Artist Forging a Connection Through Vivid Images". Time. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  36. "Visual artist Prince Gyasi speaks at 2019 Skoll World Forum at Oxford University". Citi Newsroom. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
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