* Amon Kotei, (b. Ghana, 1915 – 2011) Signed and dated, 2004 (lower right) Oil on canvas 95 x

* Amon Kotei, (b. Ghana, 1915 – 2011) Signed and dated, 2004 (lower right) Oil on canvas 95 x 70cm (37.4 x 27.6in)

Amon Kotei was born in Ghana in 1915 and died in 2011 having established himself as one of Ghana`s greatest contemporary artists who was instrumental in designing the Ghanaian National Coat of Arms. Having served in the Royal West African Frontier Force specifically the Cartography division during the second World War, Kota went on to study at the London College of Printing in 1949. He returned to Ghana where he was initially employed at the then Gold Coast Government Printing Office.

This fine later work from 2004 was a part of an extensive body of work devoted to the celebration of women. Much of his work was inspired by the full figures of market women from Accra`s Makola market. Kotei is one of a small band of modernist Ghanaian artists which include Albert Osabu Bartimeus, who are recognised as fathers of contemporary art in Ghana.

The solid, almost monumental (mostly female) characters that are the subjects of his paintings, exude a sense of pensiveness as well as strength. Colour as a concept and a reality was fundamental to Kotei`s practice - something to be cherished and celebrated through painting. So whilst some critics have seen Fauvist influences in his paintings because of his use of intense primary colours alongside more subdued tones, the artist preferred to see this as a direct response to his perception of the world.

Biography:

Amon Kotei`s works are in numerous private collections in Africa as well in the U.K. Government`s Art Collection.

Please note that in addition to the 20% VAT on the buyer`s premium, import VAT at the rate of 5% will be added to the hammer price. Acquired direct from the artist A private collection, Ghana. Click here to view Catalogue