Gideon Kotey

Gideon Kotey, artistically known as Deon Art, is a Ghanaian-based contemporary portraiture and figuration artist interested in depicting African figurative portraits and landscape paintings from different tribes.

His focus point highlights the vibrant cultural elements and traditions unique to the region and emphasizes the symbols, rituals, traditional attire, or scenes that reflect African cultures' rich heritage and diversity. These portraits serve as powerful visual representations of the beauty and depth of African traditions, inviting viewers to appreciate and connect with the essence of African cultural identity. He also believes it helps us better visually experience another tradition and culture, as an exchange of information without using words.

His paintings help create an interesting conversation between the subject's message and the viewer and his work compels the viewer to become physically and emotionally invested in the subject's story.

Artist Statement

I aim to celebrate, and capture the spirit, essence, and heritage of my subjects and use this as an opportunity to lend the world a glance into the tradition and culture of African people.

My paintings are meant to stimulate the love of our African tradition and culture and bring back Africans who have lost or forgotten their culture and tradition. Again my work is painted in a way that depicts centuries and present times.

Meaning our culture from the past still exists in present times. This is all about the story of my subjects, which words cannot fully explain.