By John Owoo
(In Accra – Ghana)
An exhibition of paintings by Betty Acquah, which are noted for pointillism and vibrancy where colour, texture and emotion intertwine to honour the often-unseen lives of men and women, is closing at the Berj Gallery in Accra.
Indeed, her florid canvases brim with stories of trials endured, ambitions nurtured, celebrations shared and successes hard-won. Through her art, Acquah elevates ordinary people into figures of quiet heroism, rendering their daily struggles and victories with compassion and grace.
Curated by Sally Polley, each painting is a testament to her unwavering commitment to telling women’s stories alongside men with dignity and depth. Her brush is lush, often jubilant and capable of tender restraint while capturing the resilience and vulnerability of her subjects.
Whether depicting market women, mothers, porters, musicians, dancers, students, workers or trees, she imbues every figure with presence and pride, positioning them not as background characters in society but as central protagonists.
Acquah’s artistic style is unmistakable – layered with energetic brushstrokes, rhythmic patterns and a brush oscillating between warmth and intensity. Her compositions are often packed yet carefully balanced, mirroring the complex, multifaceted lives of the subjects she portrays.
Titled “It Began With a Doodle; Emotions in Motion”, her works transform movement into colour while depicting raw mobility into a living range of emotion. Indeed, the seamless blends of tints give way to vivacious dots, where motion is no longer implied by volatility but through accuracy.
Viewers move from scenes of quiet endurance to vivid moments of celebration, passing through works that capture aspiration, labor, camaraderie and transformation. The artist and curator seem to suggest that these elements – pain, perseverance, joy and achievement – are inseparably intertwined in human lives.
What’s particularly moving is Acquah’s focus on “ordinary” people – those whose names may never appear in history books, yet who shape communities, families and futures through their daily acts of strength. This she achieves through pulsating energy to her canvases as if each figure is caught mid-motion, pressing forward with purpose.
In a cultural context where women’s work – especially informal or domestic labor – often goes undervalued, Acquah’s portraits are radical. They reframe day-to-day activities as extraordinary, urging viewers to recognize and revere the foundational role played by women in society.
Beyond Ghana, her work resonates on a global scale. Undeniably, the themes she explores – inequality, resilience, solidarity and empowerment – are universally relevant. And yet, her references remain deeply rooted in Ghanaian life: markets, textiles, communal settings and the quiet spirituality that threads through her imagery.
The exhibition ends on Friday April 11, 2025.
