Caleb Kwarteng Prah

Biography
"Aesthetically, I’m inspired by the social economic conditions of everyday Ghanaians, so I borrow from the texture, the color and the patterns from everyday objects like trotros, the most common means of local transportation in Kumasi. Trotro culture is a very vibrant and colorful scene which has a lot of interesting stories within the space."  - Caleb Kwarteng Prah

In the realm of Ghanaian artistic expression, Caleb Kwarteng Prah (Ghanaian, b. 1994)  stands as a beacon, his compositions serving as luminous reflections of the soul of the Ghanaian working class. Using photography and painting as his witness, the artist unveils the inherent splendor of laboring hands, deftly weaving together captivating portraits with the fabric of everyday life, blending the tangible with the intangible in compositions that speak volumes about the urban tapestry of Ghana.

 

Fascinated by the interplay between images, objects, and the human experience in Ghanaian urban culture, Kwarteng Prah’s work transcends mere documentation to become a visual symphony of colors and textures, each frame a testament to the resilience and spirit of his subjects. Drawing inspiration from the annals of Western art history, he skillfully appropriates postures and compositional techniques to craft narratives that resonate deeply with the African experience.

 

Nurtured by the ethos of post-independence photographic practice, Kwarteng Prah’s artistry melds street photography with personal archives, weaving together a rich tapestry of memory and nostalgia. Yet beneath the surface of his seemingly whimsical compositions lies a profound political message – a testament to the transformative power of photography in reclaiming and redefining Africa's narrative on the global stage. The artist’s oeuvre speaks volumes about the complexity and beauty of the Ghanaian experience, inviting viewers to engage with the memory and history that defines the nation, confronting the ghosts of the past while charting a course towards a brighter, more hopeful future.

 

Through his work Caleb Kwarteng Prah emerges not just as an artist, but as a storyteller, a historian, and a visionary, his work serving as a bridge between the past and the present, the local and the global. As he continues to illuminate the beauty and resilience of the Ghanaian spirit, one thing remains clear – his legacy will endure as a testament to the transformative power of art in shaping our collective consciousness.

Works
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Aba, 2024
    Aba, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Aku Sika, 2024
    Aku Sika, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Araba, 2024
    Araba, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Bronya (Christmas) (Small format), 2024
    Bronya (Christmas) (Small format), 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Date Night (Small format), 2024
    Date Night (Small format), 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, From 'Portrait of a city. 1 Minute Instant', Borga Cupa Luu (Large format), 2024
    From 'Portrait of a city. 1 Minute Instant', Borga Cupa Luu (Large format), 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Red Car, 2024
    Red Car, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, First Dance (Small format), 2023
    First Dance (Small format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Badu, From "The Labour of Many" series, 2024
    Badu, From "The Labour of Many" series, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, I, From "The Labour of Many" series, 2024
    I, From "The Labour of Many" series, 2024
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Hi-lady, 2023
    Hi-lady, 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Eno Tima, 2022
    Eno Tima, 2022
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Karaoke Borga (Large format), 2023
    Karaoke Borga (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Iron Boy (Large format), 2023
    Iron Boy (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Mama (Large format), 2023
    Mama (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Okada boys (Large format), 2023
    Okada boys (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, African Choices, 2022
    African Choices, 2022
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Okada Boys , 2023
    Okada Boys , 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Aware Pa (Good Marriage), 2022
    Aware Pa (Good Marriage), 2022
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Kwaku the traveler, II , 2023, 2023
    Kwaku the traveler, II , 2023, 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Hi-lady (Large format), 2023
    Hi-lady (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, This is German Borga (Large format), 2023
    This is German Borga (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Hi-life blues (Large format), 2023
    Hi-life blues (Large format), 2023
  • Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Boys, Boys, 2023
    Boys, Boys, 2023
Art Fairs