Ewuresi Archer: You Are Invited; Your Hands and Mouth Are Not

Ewuresi Archer’s You Are Invited; Your Hands and Mouth Are Not

Burton D. Morgan Gallery: Exhibition runs Aug. 2 – Sept. 9, 2023.

Sponsored by Brennan, Manna, Diamond

Ewuresi Archer utilizes fluorescent colors and patterns in her work to celebrate Ghanaian culture. Painting with a highly saturated, glowing color palette and scrappy, energetic marks and patterns, Archer depicts everyday activities such as pounding fufu or getting a haircut, and portraying images of food items that are important to Ghanaian culture. As someone living far from the culture she grew up in, Archer always finds herself thinking about and missing parts of Ghanaian culture. Her distortions recreate the feeling of wanting something just out of reach. Archer uses this technique not only to invite a viewer into her culture, but also to allow herself a way to appreciate a culture she was very removed from growing up.

You Are Invited; Your Hands and Mouth Are Not embraces the journey of Ewuresi Archer’s personal decolonization by celebrating the rich and vibrant culinary heritage of Ghana.

“By making art appreciating Ghanaian food, I am not only nourishing my mind, but also honoring the diverse and authentic flavors, traditions, and their cultural significance… Through a visual feast of paintings, sculptures, and prints each artwork will immerse a viewer in a sensory experience that allows one to appreciate these foods in all their glory. I invite everyone to join me in this celebration, to savor the beauty of Ghanaian cuisine.” – Ewuresi Archer

About the artist Ewuresi Archer:

Ewuresi Archer is a painter and printmaker based in Cleveland, Ohio She is a Ghanaian American artist who graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2022 with a BFA in Painting and an emphasis in Printmaking. Most recently, she won the first place prize for realism at The First Annual Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize show.