Patrick William Dodoo, a Ghanaian artist and educator whose work moves between studio practice, classroom teaching, public interventions and theatre scenography, has been crowned Best in Theatre and Arts at this year’s Forty Under 40 Awards held at the Labadi Beach Hotel.

Patrick Dodoo’s interdisciplinary practice is driven by a commitment to spotlight the vulnerable and to make art that speaks to everyday life.

His artist statement and portfolio describe a black and white portrait language set against flat vibrant grounds that celebrates individuality and the grace of older faces.

The award is the latest recognition in a decade of public facing projects and exhibitions.

Dodoo is founder of Painting In The Open, an initiative that demystifies studio work by setting up pop up studios in public and inviting passersby into the creative process.

He is also the CEO of Arttricks Ghana, a corporate vehicle he uses to drive art based development and mentoring for emerging creatives.

Both projects are central to his reputation as an art practitioner who blends social practice with professional artmaking.

The Forty Under 40 scheme, organised by Xodus Communications, celebrates young leaders across business, culture and public life.

This year’s event and winners were announced at the Labadi Beach Hotel and covered by national outlets, underscoring how the awards now sit at the intersection of entrepreneurship and public recognition for cultural leaders.

Patrick Dodoo was among a shortlist of nominees in the Theatre and Arts category and emerged with the category prize, adding a sector-specific spotlight to his growing public profile.

Dodoo’s paintings are instantly recognisable. He works in acrylic on canvas and his portraits combine highly stylised, simplified figures with carefully observed faces.

The resulting images are at once graphic and tender, often pairing aged faces and children to register themes of memory, continuity and community.

His works have been shown locally and abroad and have been featured in curated exhibitions and luxury showroom shows that place his black and white figures against strong colour fields.

Beyond exhibitions, Patrick Dodoo’s work in theatre scenography and art therapy marks him out as a socially engaged maker.

He pairs practical skills in set and visual storytelling with mentorship and workshops for youth, positioning the visual arts as a tool for empowerment and social recovery.

That public orientation helped shape his nomination and, by all accounts, his win in the Theatre and Arts category at the Forty Under 40 Awards.

Patrick William Dodoo’s win is a reminder that contemporary art in Ghana now operates in multiple registers: gallery practice, public performance, education and civic entrepreneurship.

His black and white portraits are compact arguments for dignity and visibility, and the new award offers him a louder megaphone to expand Painting In The Open, scale Arttricks Ghana and deepen his work with communities and theatres across the country.