Kwesi Koo Nyarkoh: Ancestral Identity Through Impressionist Portraiture

Ghanaian artist Kwesi Koo Nyarkoh offers more than mere portraits—he channels centuries of ritual, memory, and identity through his stirring impressionist technique. His latest gallery debut at Bibianna, Much More Than Beautification, is a vivid exploration of face painting traditions across Africa, where beauty is ritual, narrative, and heritage combined.

A Transformative Discovery

“I paint what I know, what I see, and what I feel,” Koo reflects. “Each face holds a spirit, a message. The face paint is not costume; it’s identity. It is how we tell our stories, how we celebrate, how we remember.”

Koo’s path to art began when he joined art school simply to play on the football team. It was there, however, that his exceptional artistic potential was discovered—setting him on a course to become a distinguished painter.Bibianna African Art Collective

Process, Technique & Symbolism

Inspired by photographs from traditional ceremonies and rites, Koo's creative process starts with references rooted in real-life rituals. He sketches and layers his compositions in acrylic, beginning with a mid-tone primer before applying expressive layers of color. “Every painting is worth the time spent on it,” he says—each piece is deliberate, each brushstroke deeply considered.

Blending post-impressionist structure with ritualistic energy, his brushwork is at once loose and controlled. His canvases pulse with vibrant hues—vinaigrette tones of ochre, charcoal, red, white, and more—infused with ancestral memory and emotive force.

Deep Roots of Face Painting

Nearly every culture has used face painting for storytelling or spiritual purposes—from Ethiopia’s Karo tribe to the masquerade traditions of the Yoruba. Far from decorative, the paints were sacred signs: made of ochre, charcoal, plant dyes, or fats, and applied for protection, status, identity, and memory.

Standing before Koo’s portraits, viewers don’t just see vivid patterns—they feel history. His work reminds us that such rituals are not relics but living, breathing narratives that continue to shape self-understanding across generations.

Portraiture That Demands Attention

Available through Bibianna, Koo's large-scale paintings are arresting in both emotion and presence. One such piece from the Much More Than Beautification series—spans 122 × 120 cm, rendered in acrylic on stretched canvas. Its bold visage and striking gaze captivate, creating a dynamic bridge between subject and viewer.

Educator & Author

Beyond his studio practice, Koo is an influential educator in Ghana. He has written a textbook on drawing, shading, and painting that is widely used within Ghanaian schools. His ambition: to publish more instructional books and inspire a new generation of artists across the continent.

Legacy, Vision & Invitation

In Koo’s compelling body of work, African aesthetics are reclaimed authentically, not commodified. As Bibianna notes, “We are not a trend. We are the origin.”Bibianna African Art Collective His art is a declaration of sovereignty through visual form—a vibrant assertion that African traditions are foundational not just historical.

Explore Koo’s Much More Than Beautification series exclusively at Bibianna and discover how these portraits weave past and present into a timeless dialogue.