Artists advertising themselves: contemporary studio facades in Ghana.

Although mechanically reproduced, electronically illuminated signs commonly proclaim corporate identities in modern Ghana, hand-painted signs are still the primary means for advertising small businesses. The urban landscapes of Ghana are visually punctuated with signs promoting everything from boutiques, barber shops, and beauty salons to locksmiths, lotto vendors, and communication services. Nevertheless, the most stunning statements are often the facades of artists' studios, some of which feature a mosaic of thirty or more paintings in a wide variety of genres. In metropolitan Kumase alone, there have been at least 105 studios operating at one time or another over the past twelve years, with an amazing array of signs and paintings displayed street-side.

The workshops advertise themselves with sample signs, a variety of lettering styles, and multiple examples of the artists' skills at portraiture, especially important for funerary monuments. In terms of subject matter, contemporary culture heroes are at the forefront. Perhaps most popular throughout the past ten years are Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley, and Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian head of the United Nations. Ghana's presidents and traditional leaders are also frequently depicted, as are international movie stars, with a strong preference for action heroes such as Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Local musicians and sports figures (football players in particular) stand out as well. All of these are painted with care from published photographs readily available from national and international magazines. With the rising popularity of Evangelical/Pentacostal/Charismatic churches in Ghana, Christian subject matter has become increasingly prominent on studio facades. Here the painters draw from Euro-American artists whose images populate illustrated Bibles. These accumulations of signs are designed to attract local commissions, but the paintings themselves are, of course, also for sale, the primary consumers typically being foreigners.

1. Marky Jay Art Work & Training Centre, Assin Foso, 2004.

Marky Jay frames his main sign with a self-portrait on the left and Jesus on the right. Immediately below is a depiction of a story about a hunter whose wife was stolen by a gorilla, which the artist said only half seriously was "inspired by Adam and Eve." Former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings is on the left.

2. B.O.A. Creative Centre, Kumase, 1997.

Master artist Owusu Ansa (b. 1943) works in a number of styles and genres to display his talents, but is especially fond of religious anecdotes and parables such as the Muslim cleric fighting the Catholic priest on the far left. A recurring series of paintings features a football player, businessman, boxer, and Muslim all kneeling before a traditional shrine with the inscription, "Worship no god but me" (Deut. 5:7). Another painting is dominated by a devil and graphically illustrates "The Outcome of Satan's Command: Indian Hemp, Murdering, Cocaine, Fornication, Stealing."

3. Original Master King, Assin Foso, 2001.

Scenes with monkeys or apes are an ongoing source of amusement for Ghanaian audiences and are frequently seen on studio facades. The painting on the lower right by Eric Amoah (b. 1980) features the inscription, "Monkey no fine but im mother like am." Paintings of Ghanaian currency, like the one in front by Amoah, are also a relatively common means for demonstrating artistic skill. In this case the artist also saw the monumental 200 cedi note as something of a commentary on Ghanaian inflation, since the actual value of the real thing was less than three cents US in 2001.

4. Almighty God Art Works, Kumase, 1997.

The master artist Almighty God, a.k.a. Kwame Akoto (b. 1950), heads the largest and most prolific painting workshop in Kumase. He founded his own business in the mid 1970s, and by 2004, at least fifteen master artists currently heading their own studios had apprenticed under him. In 1991 Akoto had a religious epiphany when he met his soon to-be wife Faustina and entered the Living Faith Centre Pentacostal Church Prior to that time he complained about being tormented by the water spirit Mami Wata (and seductive women in general); Tata Buta, the king of the forest spirits; and the Catholic Saint Anthony. Many of Akoto's paintings are autobiographical and depict these torments. Others represent a variety of moralizing positions consistent with his current beliefs, such as admonitions against smoking, drinking, and prostitution In addition to his commercial paintings, Akoto also produces "fine art," which he calls "creativity art" Exhibitions of his works have been shown in Paris, Leon, Verona, Amsterdam, and Los Angeles.

5. Agyasco Art & Sign Services, Kumase, 2001.

Isaac Mensah (b. 1978) displays a portrait of Asantehene Osei Tutu II next to one of Martin Luther King, along with three paintings drawn from contemporary Ghanaian cartoon culture. The three small portrait paintings surrounding the image of LL Cool J are memorial works on tin, intended to be mounted on cement cemetery monuments.

6 Mighty Groovies Art & Spraying Works, Kumase, 2001.

Among other images along the bottom row are Jesus; the current Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, as King Solomon; current Ghanaian president J. A. Kuffour: and film star Jean-Claude Van Damme.

7. Gilbert Forson Art, Mankesim, 1995.

Forson also employs a self-portrait to promote his studio. The four female busts along the roof line are blouse hangers used to display current fashions in small boutiques, many of which are not any larger than this studio.

8. Holy Art, Assin Foso, 2001.

This workshop is headed by Bernard Appiah (b. 1972). The studio specializes in religious signage but, of course, will accept commissions for most kinds of work. The image of "Art Father" is a self-portrait of Appiah. He said he took the idea from the beginning of the Lord's Prayer: "Our father which art in heaven ..." where Appiah perceives that the Lord is somehow involved with art. The textiles seen here illustrate sample images that are silk screened onto T-shirts for funeral observances. Most contemporary sign painters also do silk-screening and use these samplers to advertise the service.

9. Marshad Martin Art, Kumase, 2004.

In May 2004, at least seven Kumase studios displayed images of Osama bin Laden as part of their public face The combination of the New York Trade Towers tragedy and the Iraqi war has created conflicted responses ranging from sympathy to anger, with many painters leaning toward the latter.

10. Playboy Art and Sign, Kumase, 2001.

Ghanaian sign painters are quick to respond to current events when advertising themselves Within weeks of the death of Princess Diana, at least a half dozen artists in Kumase had added an image of the princess to their facades.

11. Royal Art Works, Kumase, 1995.

Alexander Kwadwo Asante (b. 1968)joined Jesus, Eddie Murphy, and a popular Ghanaian football player to merchandize his "Pictures for Sale." Two paintings on this facade feature Ghanaian cartoon boxers the short, fat Oboy Yaro and the tall, skinny Slim Macho.

12. Andy Nanisco Art, Kumase, 1997.

Nanisco (b. 1974) apprenticed with Kwame Akoto (see Fig. 4) before opening his own studio across the street from Almighty God Art Works. The juxtaposition of Jesus and Bob Marley on the front is not uncommon among sign painters. On the side, Mickey Mouse stands above "Coca Cola Man."

13 and 14. Simple Arts, Kumase, 1997, 2004.

In September of 1997, Kwarne Ofori (b. 1964) displayed thirty-one paintings to promote his sign painting business. Due to property constraints, by May 2004 his facade had been reduced to a much more concise statement. Given the three- to five-year outdoor life span of the average painting, as well as the sale of paintings, dynamic changes over time are the norm for most studios.

15. Stonn Art & Sign, Accra, 1997.

Master painter Sadu Mama Yaro (b. 1959) was trained at the Bawku Botanical Technical Institute as a botanical illustrator, and unique among Ghana's sign painters, offers paintings of the flora of West Africa on cloth. Like several sign painters, he is also a Rastafarian and his display includes references to Bob Marley albums, including Survival and Rastaman Vibration, along with Marley's famous song "No Woman No Cry," on the Jimmy Cliff painting. The two paintings of Marcus Mosiah Garvey also reference some of the philosophical roots of Rastafarianism.

16. Wisdom Art, Kumase, 2001.

Yeboah Augustine has an obvious interest in Bill Clinton, but as his sign on the left emphasizes, his studio is a "Specialists in: T-Shirts Printing ..." Lining the ground are six used silk screens, each cut with a memorial image of a recently deceased individual, which were used to imprint T-shirts worn at funerals (see also Fig. 8).

17. Sa-Sak Art Services, Kumase, 1997.

Painter Jonathan Boamah Sakah characterized both Nelson Mandela and Arnold Schwarzenegger (seen on either side of his studio entrance) as "action heroes," combining the widespread admiration for the South African president with international cinematic lingo.

18. Amageddon Art Studio, Kumase, 1995.

Solomon Kumi (b. 1955) is another former apprentice of Kwame Akoto. Until recently. American presidents have been an honored genre on studio facades. Here Ronald and Nancy Reagan still have a presence well after their tenure in office.

19 and 20. Professional Arts Studio, Kumase, 1997 and 2004.

Two views of Kofi Gyamfi's workshop, separated by seven years. The most recent iteration no longer has any written signage, but does have two compelling Christian paintings and another of a simian carpenter. Another copy of Jean Claude Van Damme is the only image retained from the earlier facade.

21. Almighty God Arts Centre, Techiman, 2004.

Capitalizing on the success of Kwame Akoto's Almighty God Art Works in Kumase, this Brong Ahafo studio uses paintings based on Ghanaian and Nigerian video films as its primary advertisements.

22. St. Augustine Art/Sign, Kumase, 2001.

The front of this studio is dominated by two comic paintings about an errant man and an errant woman who are paying for their transgressions. Funeral T-shirts and memorial portraits are advertised on the main sign.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]