The Artist

      Marigold Akufo-Addo has been painting from a very early age. Born in Accra, Ghana, West Africa she was described in the Daily Graphic in the 1980’s the leading Daily Newspaper as a “trail blazer”.
In order to acquire techniques and mastery over her medium she enrolled in the Central School of Art and Design and then to the Slade School of Fine Art (University College, London).
In the early seventies she worked at the Ghana Museums where she learnt more of the traditional art forms, the history of civilization in Africa. After this short sojourn, she left to live with her husband Mukhtarr Kablai Mustapha (poet, writer, politician / Pan Africanist) firstly in the Senegal then in Sierra Leone. During this period she had two children, Omar and Nana Safoa.
Marigold was able to absorb into her work different art forms and hues from these regions. This is something she believes should happen. A forum must be created for interchange of different Art Forms which up to now have remained regional.
     Marigold Akufo-Addo believes that Fine Art has directives and fuel for future development: it is the artist that can delve into the past and harness it with the present to create a vision for the future.
Marigold builds up her canvas in one tenths of an inch squares – her medium: oil paint, acrylic, pen and ink – recently mixed media; etchings and lithographs. Her paintings usually tell a story of changing forms in different media to produce pure aesthetic enjoyment.
Utility is a primary factor in African Art this can be seen at Lamra Studios / gallery which was established in 1975 by its first Chairperson Marigold Akufo-Addo. Lamra produces hand painted Vases, embossed vases, decorative walls, furniture, wall hangings, plates etc.
By 1995, Lamra became a new platform to bring beauty and meaning to our homes and work places.
  

Exhibitions: -
Ambassador Hotel, 1968 – Debut in Accra, Ghana
Cochrane gallery, 1969, Washington DC, - participation in art event
Africa House, 1971, Covent Gardens, London, England
Pen and Inks, 1976, Bintumani Hotel, Freetown Sierra Leone
Established and opened Lamra Studios and Gallery, 1975 till date.
Signature Gallery, 1980
Works on display at Artist Alliance from Omanye House, Accra 1988 –
The Museum, Parliament House, Cape Town 2006
Marigold Akufo-Addo currently serves as a member of the Ghana National Commission on Culture.