ellipse prize 2025 announces the 5 finalists of the fifth edition dedicated to the Ghanaian emerging scene, under the theme Butterfly Effect. The selected artists are: Sena Burgundy, Reginald Boateng, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku, Nana Frimpong Oduro, Dela Anyah. They will present their work in an exhibition at the Mix Design Hub in Accra, from April 11 to 27, 2025.

The 2025 ellipse prize’s selection committee met on Thursday, March 13 to elect the 5 finalists of this fifth edition dedicated to emerging artists living in Ghana as well as Ghanaians living on the African continent.

For the second year, the finalists have the opportunity to showcase their work in a unique group exhibition at an iconic venue of the local art scene. This time, it will take place in Accra at The Mix Design Hub, a key space dedicated to creativity and innovation from April 11 to 27, 2025.

The winner of the 2025 ellipse prize will be announced on Wednesday, June 4. They will benefit from a production grant and an exhibition at the international fair AKAA – ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA from October 24 to 26, 2025.

The five finalists were selected among 82 applications by an independent jury composed by contemporary art professionals, including specialists in the Ghanaian art scene: Victoria Mann (Founder and director of the AKAA fair, Paris), Barbara Kokpavo Janvier (Founder and director of the Gallery Soview, Accra), and Binta Ata (Founder and director of the Mix Design Hub, Accra).

Sena Burgundy, Final Ascent, 2024, 95 x 110 cm. Courtesy of the artist and ellipse art prize.

Ghanaian painter born in 1997, Sena Kofi Appau, also known as Sena Burgundy, explores self-awareness through his practice, depicting blue figures as symbols of universal introspection. Inspired by the philosophy “nosce te” (know thyself), he blends imagination and realism to create dreamlike landscapes where dreams take shape. Sena Burgundy’s pictorial universe, influenced by cinema and music, offers a glimpse into his quest for identity and understanding of the world.

Reginald Boateng, OUR WATERS TURNS RED, The Scream For Urgency, 2024. Courtesy of the artist and ellipse art prize.

Ghanaian visual artist and photographer born in 1999, Reginald Boateng explores notions of identity and culture, blending tradition and modernity within his subjects and compositions. He began his practice with an iPhone, capturing everyday scenes with a distinctive style rooted in Ghanaian heritage. His work reveals the richness of textures and colors inspired by Kente fabric while offering a contemporary perspective on communities.

Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku, Shredde Connections In The Alley II, 2025, 110 x 12 m. Courtesy of the artist and ellipse art prize.

Born in 1994 in Accra, Ghana, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku is a multidisciplinary artist who repurposes discarded textiles to create original works, blending sculpture and canvas. Through dyeing and assemblage techniques, he transforms used garments silent witnesses of past lives questioning identity, overconsumption, and colonial heritage. At the intersection of history and sustainability, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku’s work initiates a reflection on industrialization and climate change.

Nana Frimpong Oduro, Family Matters, 2024, 4704 x 6000 px. Courtesy of the artist and ellipse art prize.

Nana Frimpong Oduro is a photographer and art director born in 1996 in Tema, Ghana, whose universe draws inspiration from surrealism. The artist creates dark-toned compositions where the human figure emerges from water, embodying fluidity, emotion, and depth. Like a visual poem, Nana Frimpong Oduro materializes the human condition, exploring themes of interdependence, solidarity, and hope.

Dela Anyah, Elementary Rebirth, 2023. Courtesy of the artist and ellipse art prize.

Dela Anyah, born in 1986 in Accra, Ghana, is a multidisciplinary artist who creates works from worn-out tires, inner tubes, and license plates. Reinterpreting traditional African weaving techniques, the artist crafts abstract compositions where each material’s deterioration tells a story. Through his work, Dela Anyah invites us to reconsider the value and beauty of forgotten materials while highlighting humanity’s dependence on machines.

The ellipse prize
Related to a theme specific to each edition, the ellipse prize is an itinerant visual art competition dedicated to the artistic creation
from a different country each year. This contest aims to disseminate the messages conveyed by artists from all horizons to encourage intercultural exchanges. Otherwise, the ellipse prize wishes to encourage emerging artists’ mobility and initiate professionnal opportunities beyond borders.

ellipseartprojects.org