Amoako Boafo’s ‘Self-Portrait (Yellow)’ serves as a compelling visual chronicle of the artist's journey, offering a candid glimpse into his nuanced emotions and introspections. Completed in 2020, this lithograph delivers a raw and honest portrayal of Boafo’s contemplative spirit amidst the global uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The subtle expression captured within the print speaks to concern and introspection, emotions that permeated society at the time.

Collaborating with the lithography print studio Idem Paris, Boafo harnessed the medium to translate his distinctive style with immediacy and authenticity. By directly applying grease to the limestone using his fingers, he sculpts evocative textures across the surface. The lithograph further flattens these textures into a uniform spread of ink, creating a topography of the artist’s face through the directional flow of marks rather than tonal gradations. This tactile approach imbues the work with Boafo’s signature intimacy and visceral energy.

This fingerpainting technique, which has since become a cornerstone of Boafo’s work, emerged serendipitously. Originally intended to protect his developing brushwork style while appearing in a friend's music video, painting with his fingers proved revelatory. What began as a creative misdirection blossomed into a unique artistic language, now instantly recognizable as part of Boafo's visual identity.

In ‘Self-Portrait (Yellow),’ Boafo fully commits to this visual language, extending it into the realm of printmaking. The lithograph bears witness to his preference for the painterly over the linear, leaving unmistakable traces of the artist's physical presence in its creation. His affinity for the immediate and expressive approach is shared by artists such as Jennifer Packer and Egon Schiele. Boafo’s depiction of flesh, in particular, echoes Schiele's undulating forms, emphasizing the expressive power of mark-making.

‘Self-Portrait (Yellow)’ stands as a testament to the intimacy and introspection inherent in self-portraiture. The physicality of Boafo’s technique, mimicking the contemplative gesture of fingers stroking the face, heightens the personal connection between artist and medium. Through this lithograph, the viewer gains an unfiltered glimpse into Boafo's creative spirit, captured with sophistication and profound honesty. In this work, Boafo delivers an emphatic entry into his oeuvre, reaffirming his commitment to a visual language that prioritizes painterly immediacy and emotional resonance. ‘Self-Portrait (Yellow)’ encapsulates a moment of personal and global reflection, offering a poignant meditation on the relationship between self, expression, and the world around us.

NOTES

Other examples of this rare lithograph are held in esteemed collections such as the UBS Art Collection, one of today's most distinguished corporate collections, setting the standard in contemporary art.