Larry Otoo, a succesful career

 

Larry Otoo was born in 1956 in Accra, capital of Ghana. His art teacher in secondary school already predicted that his artistic talent would carry him far. Otoo's father, an economist, was less enthusiastic about an artistic career and had other plans for his son, encouraging him to study economics. Nevertheless Larry Otoo enrolled in the College of Art at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, graduating with a BA Fine Arts in 1981. Additionally he obtained a Master’s degree in African Art and Comparative Literature from the same academic institution.

During his studies he became very interested in the various ways in which the different ethnic groups in Africa were practising art and he came to understand better the cultural differences and the cultural diversity within and between nations and ethnic communities in West Africa and beyond. This understanding inspired him later as an artist to incorporate cultural and social influences from very diverse sources in his work to create a personal artistic style.

Larry Otoo is currently one of the most renowned painters from Ghana. Widely collected, he has an international following. He has held exhibitions in Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria), in Europe (Holland, Britain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain), in Canada, in the United States and in Japan. He was chosen as Artist of the Year 1987 in Ghana.

Otoo's paintings decorate the Ghana Presidential Suite as well as the State Building and Ghana’s Chancery in Washington, D.C. In 2011, he was invited to participate in an art residence in Segovia (Spain) and in a collective exhibition in the Nubuke Foundation of Accra, Ghana. His paintings are found in major international collections.

 

Larry Otoo captures the vibrancy of daily life

 

Daily impressions, the way people talk, move and work in public, the very details of life provide the subject matters of his vibrant paintings. Sometimes described as a "contemporary traditionalist", Larry Otoo paints to recreate his perception of what was happening at a certain moment in time, capturing the "live installation", as he calls it, that he witnessed and recorded in his surroundings. A "social commentator" rather than a political artist, he uses paintings to document contemporary social life both in the West African environment and beyond and he captures the human condition as he sees it in everyday life.

 

His passion for music, rhythm and jazz

 

Larry Otto’s subject matters have changed over the course of time. Whereas he started out depicting traditional market scenes 15 years ago, he currently prefers contemporary themes like music, musicians, rhythm and a personal favorite of his, jazz.

 

In terms of style, Otoo alternates between realism, expressionism and abstraction, displaying a highly sophisticated ability to make use of the various possibilities of artistic expression. He creates the particular visual effects of his paintings not only by means of a carefully balanced, yet powerful coloration, black and white contrasts and surface texture, but also with the "swing" of movement and contextual rhythm.

 

Individual Exhibitions

 

2015 – Afro Jazz – Out of Africa gallery, Sitges, Barcelona

2014 – Cocktails and Catwalks – Roots Hotel, Osu, Accra

2014 – Jazz Festival painting exhibition by Larry Otoo, sponsored by Alliance Française Ghana

2013 – L’Arte Café presents Larry Otoo – The Accents and Art Gallery, Bubuashie, Accra 

2013 - Out of Africa gallery , Sitges, Barcelona

2011 – A night with Larry – sponsored by the Spanish Embassy and the Nubuke Foundation, Accra

2011 - Happy in Segovia, Residency - Galeria Afrika, Segovia

2009 - Meet the Artist Exhibition - Alliance Française, Accra

2008 - End-of-Residency Show, Vermont Studio Centre, Johnson, VT

2006 - Larry Otoo - Headlines Hospitality, Accra

2005 - Watershed - Pictorialist Studio, Accra

2004 - Contemporary Encounters - Kuaba Gallery, Indianapolis

2002 – Painting Award Exhibition – Caterina De Medici, Florence

2002 - Isn't It Romantic: Flowers - Leasafric, Accra

2000 - Colours of Life - Mmofra Foundation, Accra

1997 - Retrospective - National Theatre, Accra

1993 - Larry Otoo - Beaux Arts Gallery, Trinity House, Accra

1992 - Collector's Items - Goethe Institut, Accra

1988 - Otoo '88 - British Council, Accra

1987 - Holland Calling - University of Ghana, Legon / with KLM airlines

1987 - Fontomfrom - Goethe Institut, Accra

1987 - Impressionism Africa - Arts Circle Gallery, Munich

1983 - Culture Recalled - The Loom, Accra

1981 - Courage in Heritage – USIS American Center

 

Collective Exhibitions

 

2014 – Tiga Art Gallery Christmas Show for 7 painters, Labone Accra

2013 – Kaleidoscope – paintings by 8 Ghanaian artists at the Villa Boutiques Hotel Usu, Accra

2012 – Afrikart exhibition – international artists – Frameless Gallery, London

2012 – Sunshine and Music – paintings by Anne Blankson-Hemans and Larry Otoo

2010 - Pulse the Pulse: Portrait of Accra - ACC Gallery, Weimar

2010 - Jamestown Mantse Exhibition - Goethe Institut, Accra

2009 - Nsoroma: Legacy of Joe Nkrumah - Dei Centre, Accra

2006 - Four Ghanaian Artists - Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)

2004 – 12 contemporary artists of Ghana – Artists Alliance Gallery – held in Denmark

2002 - Ghana - S.B.K. Kunsthal, Amsterdam

2002 - Body Electric (Valentine Show) - National Theatre, Accra

2001 - Just Women - Artists Alliance, Accra

2001 - Akwaaba - Basilica del Santo, Padova

2001 - African Strides - Mmili Nma Center (opening), Lagos

2000 - Save our Soul, 51st Anniversary - Novotel, Accra

2000 - A Slice of Contemporary African Art - Gallery B. Fors, Stockholm and Frederiksberg City Hall, Copenhagen

1999 - 4-Man Show - Leasafric, Accra

1999 - 30th Anniversary - The Loom Gallery, Accra

1998 - International Contemporary Art Fair - Arte Fiera, Bologna

1997 - Cross Currents: Journeys Within the Diaspora - Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis

1996 - Wiz, Larry, Kofi - Loft des Artistes Gallery, Abidjan

1996 - Art in Corporate Environment - National Theatre, Accra

1996 - Rise With the Sun Women and African - York Quay Centre Gallery, Toronto

1994 - Sixteen: Exhibition of Paintings and Prints - Savannah Gallery of Modern African