This week, Mariane Ibrahim debuts the first solo exhibition in Mexico City of new works by Ghanaian painter Amoako Boafo. “The One That Got Away” is on view from February 7 to May 24, allowing viewers to witness the expressive finger-paintings for which Boafo is famous. The artist is recognized for his striking portraits of Black men and women. All twenty of the paintings on display depict the human form cast in rich colors, with striking swirls of cobalt and warm streaks of yellow.
Each of Boafo’s portraits depicts a friend, collaborator, or someone connected to him. His subjects stare unwaveringly at the viewer. Often juxtaposed by subtle, muted backdrops, the works require the viewer to look directly into the subject’s eyes, creating a sense of both immediacy and intimacy.
Amoako Boafo, “White Pearls,” 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Mariane Ibrahim.
These new portraits vary dramatically in size, ranging from the size of a book to the entirety of a wall. Boafo’s tableaux vivants are known for their vast range of sizes, which yield exhibitions that feel anything but monotonous, as well as make room for the sheer grandeur of their spirituality. “The One That Got Away” is an awe-inspiring testament to the vibrancy and vitality of Boafo’s work thus far.
Though most of this exhibit comprises finger paintings, the artist also showcases his first-ever stained-glass piece: a grand, staggering mosaic entitled White-Glass Basin (2023-2024), standing almost ten feet tall. Other highlights include White Pearls (2023), a finger-painted portrait of a regal-looking woman donning pearls that match the piece’s white background, and Tongue Out (2023), which depicts a small boy sitting atop a man’s shoulders against a similarly stark backdrop.
Amoako Boafo, “Labios Entreabiertos, Uñas Blancas,” 2023-2024. Courtesy of the artist and Mariane Ibrahim.
Amoako Boafo’s first-ever European museum exhibition at the Belvedere Museum Vienna will open to the public this autumn.
Amoako Boafo, “The One That Got Away,” 2024. Photo by Ramiro Chaves. Courtesy of the artist and Mariane Ibrahim.
