Paa Joe Art Academy
Donation protected
The Paa Joe Art Academy in Accra, Ghana is an initiative aimed at supporting underprivileged and local artists by providing them with lessons, skills training, and a creative environment for artistic expression. The academy focuses on various art forms, including sculpting, arts and crafts, architecture, ceramics, design, and cultural education.
One of the goals of the Paa Joe Art Academy is to showcase and promote the works of talented artists who have not yet gained international exposure. The art space will house their artworks and artifacts, providing them with a platform to reach wider audiences.
The funds raised for the academy will be allocated towards the construction of the building, furnishing the facilities, and providing startup art supplies for the academy's students. The construction of the academy began in January 2020 with independent funds, and additional funding is sought to support its completion by the anticipated finish date of 2025. The project also aims to create local job opportunities within the Accra community.
Paa Joe, the namesake of the academy, is a renowned Ghanaian artist specializing in palanquin and fantasy coffins. Born in 1947 in Akwapim, Ghana, Paa Joe is considered one of the most important coffin artists of his generation. His artistic tradition involves carving and painting figurative coffins that represent the deceased's occupation or identity, reflecting Ghanaian beliefs on life and death. Paa Joe's work gained global recognition after an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, in 1989. His practice has since evolved to include smaller-scale sculptural boxes and contemporary symbols like mobile phones and Air Jordan-shaped coffins. Paa Joe's work can be found in prominent institutional collections worldwide, including The British Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
With support from donors like yourself, the Paa Joe Art Academy aims to nurture and empower the next generation of artists, providing them with the necessary resources to excel in their creative endeavors. The academy will serve as an outlet for aspiring artists, offering them opportunities that Paa Joe himself did not have access to during his artistic journey.
One of the goals of the Paa Joe Art Academy is to showcase and promote the works of talented artists who have not yet gained international exposure. The art space will house their artworks and artifacts, providing them with a platform to reach wider audiences.
The funds raised for the academy will be allocated towards the construction of the building, furnishing the facilities, and providing startup art supplies for the academy's students. The construction of the academy began in January 2020 with independent funds, and additional funding is sought to support its completion by the anticipated finish date of 2025. The project also aims to create local job opportunities within the Accra community.
Paa Joe, the namesake of the academy, is a renowned Ghanaian artist specializing in palanquin and fantasy coffins. Born in 1947 in Akwapim, Ghana, Paa Joe is considered one of the most important coffin artists of his generation. His artistic tradition involves carving and painting figurative coffins that represent the deceased's occupation or identity, reflecting Ghanaian beliefs on life and death. Paa Joe's work gained global recognition after an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, in 1989. His practice has since evolved to include smaller-scale sculptural boxes and contemporary symbols like mobile phones and Air Jordan-shaped coffins. Paa Joe's work can be found in prominent institutional collections worldwide, including The British Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
With support from donors like yourself, the Paa Joe Art Academy aims to nurture and empower the next generation of artists, providing them with the necessary resources to excel in their creative endeavors. The academy will serve as an outlet for aspiring artists, offering them opportunities that Paa Joe himself did not have access to during his artistic journey.
Organizer
Sedrina Bloome
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY