Kpe Innocent (b. 1994), Ghanaian.
Innocent, a self-taught visual artist, strives to create work that focuses on representing the commonality the entire human race share, regardless of geographic or sociological limitations. His work accommodates themes surrounding love, grace, hope, and speaks to conditions that affect us as humans since at the end of the day we all have similar fears and we all hope for better things.
His quirky acrylic on canvas paintings show bulbous humanoid figures. Their proportions are exaggerated and dominate their surroundings – large bodies with long limbs and tiny heads. Like the background, the figures are painted in blocks of colour in neutral earthy tones and clean minimalist lines. His work combines contemporary aesthetics like streetwear and modernist architecture, and leaves room for the viewer to breathe (negative spaces). These figures are mostly found in isolation, representing our natural state of individuality.
Innocent’s work also speaks to a reflection on the metaphysical; a way of reminding people that there is more to life than meets the eye. That there can be good in the world regardless of the evil that is predominant, and this he is determined to preach through his practice.