The Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo will present new and recent works at the Museo di Palazzo Grimani in Venice this spring in his first solo show in Italy. The show will be co-organised by Gagosian Gallery which represents the artist, and coincide with the 61st Venice Biennale (9 May-22 November).
A museum statement says: “Drawing inspiration from the Renaissance atmosphere of Palazzo Grimani, Boafo turns his gaze to the rich Venetian portrait tradition. The artist is creating a series of new works specifically for the exhibition, directly referencing this historical context and the unique architecture of the palace.”
In 2022, Boafo opened an arts hub with artist residencies—known as dot.ateliers—in the Ghanaian capital Accra where he is based. “Boafo’s joyous portraits of solely Black people strike a chord, not only with savvy market operators but also with cultural commentators across the creative industries,” wrote Amah-Rose Abrams. His auction record is $3.4m (with fees) for his 2018 painting Hands Up which sold at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2021.
Gagosian says that Boafo— known for his trademark technique of manipulating pigment with his fingers—is “inspired by the expressionistic portraiture of the Vienna Secession artists Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele”. Last year, Gagosian held a show of Boafo’s work at its London space, I Do Not Come To By Chance, which included paintings such as Amidst Tulips (2025).
The Museo di Palazzo Grimani in Santa Maria Formosa, which forms part of the Musei Archeologici Nazionali di Venezia e Della Laguna, was built in the Middle Ages; it was transformed in the 16th century by the heirs of Antonio Grimani, the doge of Venice from 1521 to 1523. Gagosian launched a show of works by the German artist Georg Baselitz at the museum in 2021.
