Ghanaians and the diplomatic corps celebrated the opening of an outstanding contemporary creative space, Amba Gallery, in Accra on May 29, with a private preview on May 28.

The intricately curated Afrocentric space, Amba Gallery, founded by Ghanaian businessman Amadu Baba, located at the Galleria, Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, will host a founding exhibition headlined by Ghanaian fine art photographer Derrick O. Boateng, curated by Lungi Morrison, originally from South Africa.

Dubbed 'A New Decade’, the exhibition comprises a new body of work by Derrick O. Boateng, who recently exhibited in Amsterdam and Paris.

Mr Boateng is a Ghanaian digital artist inspired from childhood by the colours found on his mother’s African print dresses and wraps.

The bold contrasting prints a master of the vibrant “Afro-Pop” digital art modality, dubbed palette of colors or ‘hue-ism’, a term Derrick coined with his team in Accra.

The young artist has amassed a following and praise from tech giant Google to iconic rapper Common who used Derrick’s artwork for the cover of his newly released album ‘A Beautiful Revolution'.

"For me the people and colors of Ghana are my inspiration. Real life, the marketplace, communities, the laughter, there is just so much expression in everyday life. As soon as I step outside my house there is color everywhere. Africa is full of it," Mr. Boateng said.

His new collection, showing for the first time on home soil reflecting Derrick’s brilliant vantage point, "through my viewfinder I see beyond our past. A new decade for art, a bright future at last," said Derrick O. Boateng.

Amba Gallery’s founder, Mr Amadu Baba, said, "in the last decade alone, the total value of the global art market increased significantly, edging north of $63.7 billion by the end of 2018 (Quartz Africa 2018).

"However, Africa and South America’s art market combined accounted for less than four per cent of global sales in the same year, despite the young vibrant creative community characteristic of these sprawling Southern hemisphere markets”.

Baba added, “strengthening the value chain includes better access, engagement and conversion in terms of art sales across Africa, leveraging technology and innovation in the context of the pandemic etc., ensuring artists continue to thrive”.

What is also important for Africa at this moment in Africa’s trajectory, an art gallery representative of our elaborate and vibrant creative communities across 54 nation states – collectively contributing to a multi-billion-dollar global arts sector and economy.

The new gallery is designed by an Italian Albanian architect, Berta Copa, founder of BleArchitecture, currently based between Ghana and London, who envisioned the gallery design alongside its founder, Baba and curator, creative director Lungi Morrison.

Amba is the culmination of their shared vision to create a distinctively contemporary African gallery experience in contrast to what is a global heuristic when people think art gallery - ‘whitewalls’ and empty spaces.

Instead, the trio is intentional about offering an alternative visual narrative and lens to view art, specifically, African sculptural art pieces, bronzes and antique textiles.

The interior is reminiscent of an amphitheater where perimetrical curvy steps enhance the centerpiece.

The architectural layout embraces contemporary and vernacular traditions, Architect, Berta Copa adding that, upon arrival at Amba Gallery, visitors are met by an elevated circular podium, a deliberate inclusion to the gallery compound, where ancient bronze pieces and Ashanti-stools.

Ms Copa added, "Metal mesh railings line the gallery ceiling offering solutions for textiles and other installations.

Curator and Creative Director, Lungi Morrison said, in an effort to increase the love for arts at the grass root level, Amba Gallery will organise education outreach programs involving different Ghanaian communities.

She highlighted that establishing institutional frameworks, galleries, museums and art schools are critical to securing Africa’s stake in the sector.