October Gallery will present “Freedom Rising: The Art of Owusu-Ankomah,” a posthumous exhibition of selected works by the late Ghanaian artist. The exhibition will focus on a core period of his work from 2008 to 2014.
Owusu-Ankomah, who was born in Sekondi, Ghana, became known for his large-scale canvases featuring monumental human figures set against a dense background of symbols. His artistic practice evolved through several distinct phases. Initially drawing from ancient African rock painting and masquerade traditions, his work later saw its figures shed their masks, becoming what the gallery describes as “mute actors afloat in an ocean of signs.” Using a trompe l’oeil technique, the artist covered the sculpted bodies of his figures with glyphs that matched the background, creating an effect where the forms merge with their symbolic environment.
The symbolic language in Owusu-Ankomah’s work was foundational. He began by employing adinkra symbols from the Akan people of Ghana. Over time, his visual vocabulary expanded to incorporate symbols from a range of other cultures and disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy, and physics. He also developed his own glyphs. This synthesis of traditional and contemporary symbols allowed him to explore a wider set of themes.
In his later work, Owusu-Ankomah’s inquiries into the nature of reality led to the development of the “microcron,” a symbol he described as the “symbol of symbols.” Represented as a circle of orbs, this meta-symbol became a central theme, representing the idea that humanity constructs its reality through symbolic projection. The artist’s work from this period often depicts his sculpted figures in the process of apprehending this concept. “For me, these paintings are all about the power of freedom: freedom of movement, freedom of self-expression, both as individuals and societies,” Owusu-Ankomah had stated.
Owusu-Ankomah’s work has been exhibited internationally, including in the notable Africa Remix exhibition, at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, and at the inaugural Africa Basel. His works are held in collections such as the British Museum in London, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Hood Museum of Art in the United States.
The exhibition “Freedom Rising: The Art of Owusu-Ankomah” will be on view at October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, London, from the 4th of September to the 4th of October, 2025. The artist passed away in February 2025. His work was previously shown in the Africa Remix exhibition (2004-2007), at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (2023), and at Africa Basel (2025). Admission to the October Gallery exhibition is free.
