ARTIST PROFILE

A Visual Journey

Harford Y.Okyere Sr (Afroshee)
Hayford Okyere is a prolific Ghanaian painter, whose output of work is quite unique.
Spent his academic years in Ghana. Afroshee, as he is otherwise known, started drawing at a
very tender age. After elementary school, he attended Accra School of Arts and Ghanatta
College of Art, completing his course with grade 1 at A-level and a diploma in Art in 1974. He
specializes in oils, pastels, acrylics and watercolours
He worked with Ghanatta Studios (1974-1977) in Graphic Art, Cartoons, and Book Illustration.
For many years he was the sole illustrator for the Christian Mothers' Association of Ghana.
In 1985 he moved to Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire). He currently lives and works in Grand-
Bassam, just opposite la nouvelle CIE.
There had been many exhibitions to his credit:
1980 - Greater Accra Art Festivals- Accra, Ghana
1984 - Young Artists of Labadi
1985 - O.A.U fair Lome, Togo
1986- Bonn, Germany
INDOTECH - Accra, Ghana
Falomo Shopping Centre - Lagos, Nigeria
1992- Grand concours de Création Artistique
Bonoua, Côte d'Ivoire
(Won first prize with his other Ghanaian friend)
1993-American Embassy (2x) - Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire
1998 - Galerie Farafina - Ouaga, Burkina Faso
1999- Ambassade de C.I - Copenhagen, Denmark and CAK Centre --- Oslo, Norway respectively.
2007- Green Field - Lomé, Togo
2011-Galerie Adam - Ouaga, Burkina Faso
In 1988- the selection Committee of the International Award for Export, in conjunction with the
trade Leaders Club awarded him for his contribution to the export activity of arts in France.
Okyere is particularly grateful to M. Per Jorgensen, director of A.P. Moller through Maersk
Regional Office in Abidjan; to her Excellency Mrs Liliane Marie-Laure Boa, the then
Ambassadrice of Côte d'ivoire in Denmark; to the Consulate of Denmark in Cote d'ivoire; to
Mr. Barth. Niava and the CAK team in Oslo for their immense contribution to his career. They
collectively enabled him to exhibit for the first time in Denmark and Norway, respectively.
" Mr. Y.B Ghanatta and Mr. Amon Kotei, both renowned Ghanaian artists, have always been my
mentors," he says.
Okyere has been influential to many young artists both at home and abroad. In Ghana
artists Adjetefio and Victor Odoi are among many others he helped to groom.
He plans for an art school to impart his talents to the younger generation of artists, anywhere
in Afrik
"For many years I have lived in small towns and villages where life or nature is both
magnificent and dramatic ... | see women as the custodians, symbol of the African traduction
and rich culture, hence the nature of my works- mainly feminine
A sizable proportion of my inspiration comes from my admirers.

To them all, God bless"