It was a night of youthful exuberance at the Gyandu Place in Adjiringanor, East Legon on Saturday, January 7, 2023, as Kelvin Sarpong Jr and Myda Klutse opened their creative genuity to the general public with the 2nd Edition of The Art Gala, an Annual event that brings art lovers, collectors, artists, influencers, and industry players together under one roof to celebrate art culture and the spirit that binds it together. The Art Gala 2023 served as a space for art exhibition, networking, and other cheerful activities including an auction session where art collectors got the chance to bid for various artworks put on display, the event was heavily attended by people from diverse walks of life and saw its progression of the night with colourful old-fashioned outfits as the dress theme for the event was set to the 90s!
It was indeed a great surprise to note that, not only is art (paintings) pretty much alive in Ghana but the youth are immensely in tune with it. As Leonardo da Vinci once said – “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen”. The paintings displayed at the Art Gala is one to be seen and devoured – breaking the very fabric of emotions contained within each memorable creative piece! The art exhibitions displayed at the Art Gala, 2023 saw wondrous artworks, and one painting valued at Ghc15,000 was given away as a raffle during the exhibition among other paintings given away freely to some lucky attendees!
The enormous work which went into the exhibition clearly seemed to have paid off beautifully for Kelvin Sarpong Jr and Myda Klutse who successfully managed to bring together other artists giving them a voice and a wholesome space to outdoor their works to the public, a gesture that deserves high accolades and recommendation, support, and patronage from seasoned industry players within the art community. Some of the paintings displayed are works that connect emotionally and psychologically to the artists which range from young and passionate Ghanaian citizens that have taken the mantle of projecting and ensuring that art (paintings) in Ghana do not die. The Art Gala ensured that creative works by young Ghanaian creative professionals are given a space and a competitive push within the international community where a single piece of artwork often goes as high as say over a billion American dollars! (Reference to the Mona Lisa Painting by Leonardo da Vinci).
During the exhibition, which happened a week after the solo art exhibition of Patrick William Doodo at the same venue, attendees had the opportunity to interact with the original artists who did the art paintings exhibited and were further graced with an enhanced privilege of getting information on the conceptualization 'idea' stage of every artwork displayed. The sheer sight of seeing youthful Ghanaians patronize paintings and snap pictures and videos with the art pieces clearly signify that Ghana is indeed ready for national attention to art and further signifies that indeed Ghanaians love and appreciate the value of art paintings.
This is a market that needs to be heavily invested in by stakeholders should Ghana have any future in the fiercely competitive international market. Imagine the IMF gives Ghana $3 Billion USD, and the Nation can work towards bouncing on its feet in moments when the cedi was deeply depreciating against the dollar, now also imagine 1,000 Ghanaian artists are fully funded and supported and 1000 or ten-thousands of their artworks is nationally put on display and patronized, this would be able to generate same $3 Billion USD for Ghana! Without any IMF or foreign support and pry! Now that is the value of Art and the power of the Art Gala that was organized by Kelvin Sarpong Jr and Myda Klutse. – A bold step that all stakeholders must work towards and support! As spoken by the last surviving World War II Ghanaian Veteran - Joseph Ashitey Hammond, in Ghana when someone takes the step to do something good, we must all join forces and support!
The Exhibiting artists displayed at the Art Gala, 2023 are works done by: Adwoa Ntobea Aboakye, Emmanuel Vifah, Eugene Gyasi, Emmanuel Foli, Kojo Odoku, Myda Klutse, Marcel Tettey, Natashia, Kukua Arthur, Oyeleke Victory, Peneloppe Boakye-Yiadom, Sena Tues, Samuella Graham (Samo), Samuel Blankson (Themanyphacedgod), Viola Dodoo, and Patrick William Dodoo. To support and/or patronize some of the arts displayed at the Art Gala, you can contact Kelvin Sarpong Jr and Myda Klutse via the Gyandu Place in Adjiringanor, East Legon - Accra, Ghana.
PRESS RELEASE PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE EVENT: The Art Gala is an annual themed event that brings art lovers, art enthusiasts, collectors, artistes, artists, entertainers, influencers, dancers, and everyone that influences the art industry together under a roof in a gallery to celebrate Art and also to network. The Art Gala encompasses ART, MUSIC & FASHION altogether. The Gala secondarily seeks to promote the interest in art in our millennial sector and highlight the relevance of everyday art.
The Art Gala was founded by Kelvin Sarpong Jr and Myda Klutse and it is currently in its second edition. The maiden edition of the Art Gala was on October 30, 2021, at the House of Safori Art Gallery in Accra, Ghana. Art displayed on the night was solely art from the Legendary Yaw Safori. (Worldly renowned artist, designer, and sculptor). The second edition of the Art Gala will take place this Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Gyandu Place in East Legon. This year will feature works from over 15 different artists and will be set in the 90s theme. People will get the chance to see various art pieces, network, have photo sessions, and also have lots of fun. Partners of the Gala this year are Gyandu and the Ghana Artist Club. The Art Gala hopes to be the best Art event in Ghana and Africa. In the next editions, it will capture artists from various countries and will bring in people from all around to celebrate Art.
