Kobina Nyarko

Read more about his biography

His paintings were totally abstract in the beginning, till he came closer to the fish by imagining himself living in the shark’s eyes. With time, these paintings have evolved dramatically to expressionism and impressionism. From simply painting them as they are, to painting them as living animals and placing them in their rightful place, the sea. The fish paintings reflect on the beauty beyond the sea and the life therein and urge us to stop pollution.

With this as his main source of inspiration and focus, Nyarko has been able to paint the shoals of fish movements in varying colours; in blues, reds, yellows, oranges, greens, browns and greys. He is currently painting with turquoise in oils and acrylics on canvas.

Painting about the symbolism of the fish has earned him the accolade, FISHMAN, by art collectors and art lovers. He tries to compose these paintings with much effort and energy, bringing into the paintings a spin, turn, push, spiral and tunnel movement and making sure every fish in the painting has an eye.

Nyarko’s titles capture the daily lives of the fish as in comparison with other lives and makes sure they carry a message for their being part of nature and our existence, too. As these paintings of his reflect on the oceans and their inhabitants, they carry a message of our obligation to care for them. Saving the seas is one of the strong messages which cuts across his titling. Bringing these paintings to all mankind is Nyarko’s ultimate goal and his contribution to the environment. He doesn’t want future generations to come to see current endangered species in the oceans only in pictures. ‘’When the last fish dies, the last man dies”.

Nyarko’s paintings are now all over the world. In Ghana, in private and public collections, like the Canadian and Danish High Commission and also the American, Russian and South African Embassies in Ghana. They are also exhibited in the San Diego Museum of Man in California (USA), London (UK) and Brussels (Belgium).

Studies

1999-2003
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, BA Industrial Art, Kumasi, Ghana

1993-1995
Cambridge Academy, A’ Level Certificate, Accra, Ghana

Exhibitions

2018
- Save the Oceans, Out of Africa Gallery, Barcelona, Spain

2017
- LA Fashion Style Week, Los Angeles, USA

2015
- Cowi Art Association, The State Library, IBM Art Association, Dupont Art Association, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Black & White Auction, Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana
- The Yonkofa Project's "A September Affair" in Atlanta, Georgie, USA
- The Church in Paarup, OUH Art Association, Fyens Stiftstidende, Odense NV, Denmark
- Collective exhibition: Kobina Nyarko, Emmanuel Ekong Ekefrey & Kofi Agorsor, Marel Art Association, Aarhus N, Denmark
- Dansk fjernvarme, Kolding, Denmark
- Svendborg High School Art Association, Svendborg, Denmark
- "The Black Stars of Ghana - Art District", Goethe Institut, Accra, Ghana
- Ritzaus Bureau, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Brenderup Open University, Braenderup, Denmark

2014
- Solo exhibition, Gallery My Trunk, Aarhus C, Denmark
- The Yonkofa Project "A September Affair" in Atlanta, Georgia. USA.

2013
- "Sea and Music", Out of Africa Gallery, Barcelona, Spain

2011
- "Feeling Africa With Us", Minsk Art Gallery, Belarus, Moscow, Russia

2009
- Oil and Gas Business Conference and Exhibition, Hotel Takoradi, Ghana

2008
- Solo Exhibition, Babson Community, Hollister’s Ground Floor Lobby, USA
- Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra, Ghana

2007
- Solo Exhibition, LIFELINE, Held at The Ark, Hayling, Island, UK

2006
- San Diego Museum of Man, Artists Speak, Contemporary Art from Ghana and Zimbabwe

2005
- Collective exhibition with artist Adwoa Amoah, Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra, Ghana

2000
- TRATECH 2000, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- First National Exhibition of the Unknown Artists, National Commission on Culture, Accra - Kumasi, Ghana

1999
- PANAFEST 99, the 4th Pan African Historical Theatre Festival, Cape Coast, Elmina & Accra, Ghana

1998
- WESTFAIR 98, Western Regional Coordinating Council, Takoradi, Ghana

1997
- PANAFEST 97, the 3rd Pan African Historical Theatre festival, Cape Coast, Elmina & Accra, Ghana

1996
- NAFAC 96, National Festival of Art and Craft, Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast, Ghana