Though he's based in New York, artist Dennis Owusu-Ansah is dedicated to using his work to showcase the beauty of Africa and African culture. The 26-year-old Ghanaian creates pop art, and his recent creations are attraction major attention on Instagram: in just a few weeks, he's gained over 12,000 followers, and recently did an interview with CNN to discuss his process and upcoming projects.
Owusu-Ansah reimagines artists like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian and Kayne West, Rhianna, and others, and creates images of them in traditional African attire. As for his inspiration, Owusu-Ansah told CNN that he began focusing on authentic African cultural traditions after a friend of his was mocked for wearing a kente cloth. "After witnessing my friend get teased by a group of men for wearing a kente cloth on our way to church, I figured something must be done to change the perspective of people who are not familiar with the African culture," he explained. He saw this event as an opportunity "to educate people about who we are, and what we stand for through my art," and began creating the pop art-inspired works that made him famous.
Click through to see some of Owusu-Ansah's beautiful creations, and check out more of his work on his website or Instagram.
