Amoako Boafo in Venice: A must-see exhibition
by Ivica Mamedy
There’s something particularly exciting about encountering Amoako Boafo’s work in Venice this year, especially as the city buzzes with the energy of the 61st Venice Biennale. His exhibition, “It Doesn’t Have to Always Make Sense”, unfolds inside the elegant Museo di Palazzo Grimani, and already feels like one of those shows people will keep talking about long after the crowds have left. Running from May to November 2026, it marks the artist’s very first solo exhibition in Italy.
Two Faces, 2021–25, © Amoako Boafo. Photo: Nii Odzenma, courtesy the artist and Gagosian
What makes this exhibition especially compelling is the way Boafo’s work gently but confidently inhabits such a historic space. The Palazzo itself, with its Renaissance architecture and classical collections, becomes more than just a backdrop. Boafo has created new paintings specifically for these rooms, responding directly to their atmosphere and history. His portraits, vibrant and contemporary, sit in conversation with centuries of Venetian art, opening a dialogue between past and present that feels both natural and quietly radical.
© Amoako Boafo. Photo: Leonardo Cestari. Courtesy Gagosian
Boafo is known for his distinctive technique, often applying paint with his fingers rather than a brush, which gives his figures a tactile, almost sculptural presence. His portraits focus on Black subjects, celebrating identity, style, and individuality with striking immediacy. In Venice, these figures seem to meet the viewer head-on, holding their own within a tradition that historically excluded them. The result is not confrontational, but rather deeply human, a reminder that portraiture is always about who gets to be seen, and how.
© Amoako Boafo. Photo: Leonardo Cestari. Courtesy Gagosian
© Amoako Boafo. Photo: Leonardo Cestari. Courtesy Gagosian
Staged in one of Venice’s most emblematic Renaissance palaces, it reflects a broader shift in the art world, where contemporary African artists are increasingly engaging with, and reshaping European cultural spaces. Boafo’s presence here feels like part of that movement, bringing new perspectives into institutions that are actively rethinking their narratives.
© Amoako Boafo. Photo: Leonardo Cestari. Courtesy Gagosian
More information HERE.
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