George Hughes approaches painting in a manner that is at once compelling and sublime. Recalling the dynamic abstractions of Jean Michel Basquiat and Willem De Kooning, Hughes demonstrates fluency with his medium in his agile renditions of historical, allegorical and often Ghanaian scenarios. Narrating Ghanaian cultural themes neatly fused with canonic traditions in Western painting, George Hughes is an artist whose work responds to themes implicit in developing worlds. 

Born in Ghana five years from independence, 1962, George Hughes came of age in a society marked by innovation and industry.   The chimerical quality of his paintings may be attributed to his alliances with diverse cultures.  The facile complexity inherent in his processes further reveals this cosmopolitan approach to art making.  

As an artist in the fullest sense, Hughes investigates diverse forms of expression.  Often experimental, novel queries posed by Hughes embrace performative dance, improvisation and costume.  Disclosing his ambivalence concerning legitimacy, these aspirations defy form or agenda. 

Hughes says, “A picture dies as soon as it is made, it is resurrected when it is seen.  My works contemplate in visual form my relationship with society… Art has become a ‘forum’ through which I deal with issues that pertain to predicaments of humanity... the cause and effects of our beliefs and occupations and how those affect our relationships and our destinies continues to intrigue and inspire me to work.”

George Hughes is an artist unfettered by form or agenda.   The maintenance of his spirit search is his greatest asset in his quest to bring form to the humanity’s dynamic role in society.  The artist currently lives and works in the USA.

Education

2001 – MFA Bowling Green State University OH, USA

1992 – MA Art Ed. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Selected exhibitions (Group)

2003/02 - Eleanor Kirkpatrick Gallery, Oklahoma City, USA

2003 – IAO Gallery, Oklahoma City, USA

2002 - Third National Juried Competition, Oklahoma City, USA

2001 - The Old Theatre, The Hague, Netherlands

2001 – Gemeente Museum, The Hague, the Netherlands

2001 – Gesellschaft fur Tecnische Zusammenarbeit, Eschborn, Germany

2001 – Artoteek Zuidoost, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2001 – 20 North Gallery, Toledo, OH, USA

2000 – The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, USA

2000 – Museum voor Zuid, Goes, The Netherlands

1999 – Galerie Xenios, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

1999 – Cirkel Galerie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1998 – Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Bowling Green, OH, USA

1998 – Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH, USA

1998 – Maison Descartes, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1997 – Melange Gallery, Toledo, OH, USA

1996 – Filli Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA

1996 – Roots of Diversity Art Show, Toledo, OH, USA

1994 – Spectrum Gallery, Toledo, OH, USA

1994 – National Theatre, Accra, Ghana

1993 – Gagliardi Gallery, Chelsea, UK

1993 – Dunia Moja, Tower Bridge, London, UK

1993 – Commonwealth Museum, Bristol, UK

1992 – The Loom Gallery, Accra, Ghana

(Solo)

2002 – Mainsite Gallery, Norman, OK, USA

2001 – Livingstone Gallery, The Hague, the Netherlands

2000 – Galeria Xenios, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

1999 – 20 North Gallery, Toledo, OH, USA

1998 - Artists Alliance Gallery, Accra, Ghana

1998 – Angelwood Gallery, Grand Rapids, OH, USA

1997 – University of Toledo, OH, USA

1994 – Tillman Gallery, Toledo, OH, USA

1992 – Queen Mary’s Centre, London, UK