JD Malat Gallery Dubai is delighted to present its first Solo Exhibition by Ghanaian contemporary Afro-Surrealist artist Kojo Marfo, Home: Heart of my existence.

This marks Marfo’s inaugural exhibition in the United Arab Emirates, offering audiences a profound exploration of the concept of Home through the lens of Afro-Surrealism. Marfo’s journey began in Ghana, where he was deeply influenced by Akan artifacts, sculptures, and carvings. His passion for art led him to New York in the 1990s, where he immersed himself in the city’s dynamic graffiti scene and rich African art collections. Now based in London, Marfo has exhibited internationally, with notable shows in Paris, Tokyo, New York, Barcelona, Amsterdam and London. His previous exhibitions at JD Malat Gallery London, including the acclaimed Crucible of Hope in 2023, have solidified his reputation as a significant voice in the contemporary art scene.

Home: Heart of my existence consists of thirteen large- scale compositions that reimagine home not as a fixed location, but as something carried within, a space shaped by memory, emotion, and personal understanding. This series marks an introspective shift in his practice, reflecting his evolving sense of place in the world. Rooted in his own experiences, Marfo invites art enthusiasts to reflect on the meaning of home in their own lives.

Home celebrates an incredible milestone in Marfo’s career, showcasing his first solo exhibition in the UAE. The exhibition offers art enthusiasts and collectors the opportunity to explore a new dimension of Marfo’s work. Displaying monumental figures and bold colours, this exhibition marks a pivotal moment in his artistic practice, situating Marfo within the context of Dubai’s expanding cultural landscape.

He declares: « Home is the heart of my existence. It reflects the things I've been through, my experiences, and my emotions. It is not necessarily the four- cornered building we live in; it is what goes on in our hearts and minds. »

Marfo attributes his style to AfroGenesis, a concept he created in response to the traditions, influences, and personal visions that shape his work. He incorporates elements of Old Master and Cubist techniques, coalescing them with Ghanaian artistic traditions, which remain central to his visual language.

AfroGenesis is about creating something new from what has come before. It’s a way of taking ideas from different places and making them my own.

This exhibition showcases Marfo’s mastery of colour, employing vibrant palettes that serve as an initial entry point into a deeper exploration of his internal landscape. His layered compositions reveal complex narratives about the human condition, offering reflections on community, personal history, and forces that shape our sense of place.

I make my work bright and colourful so that people will look at it. But I don’t just want them to look, I want them to come closer and see the story behind it.

Home: Heart of my existence invites viewers to reflect on the essence of home. Marfo showcases home transcending physical structures and borders; it lives in the mind, emotion, and shared human experience. In exhibiting in the UAE, Marfo conveys a cultural exchange, creating a space where audiences can find connection through difference, and see themselves within his work. This exhibition is a universal meditation, aligning together geographies, memories, and communities.