Emmanuel Manu Opoku
Kumasi, Ghana
11 Works exhibited on Kooness
Current location
Worcester, MA (USA)
Represented by
Categories
Works by Emmanuel Manu Opoku
EDUCATION
2021 Master of Fine Art, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2015 Bachelor of Fine Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
September 2021 - June 2022
Adjunct Lecturer of Studio Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Taught foundation sculpture Space Studio, Summer A, 2022: A project-based studio foundation course for spatial investigations where students explore methods for defining space, conceptualizing space, 3D digital fabrication and 3D design strategies
• Taught Interdisciplinary Studio Art CORE Making and Meaning Spring 2022: Explored the creation of art in combination with non-art related research
• Reviewed incoming freshmen portfolio
Fall 2019 - June 2021
Instructor of Record, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Taught foundation sculpture Shaping Space and Form, Summer A, 2021 and Fall 2020: Focused on contemporary art practices and investigated the co-shaping of form and space.
• Taught foundation sculpture Gravity and Buoyancy, Spring 2020 and Fall 2019: A project-based studio focusing on objects that inflate or suspend and explore installation strategies
August 2018 - May 2021
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Materials and Methods, Advanced Sculpture, Spring 2021: Explored sculpture in expanded field and problems in sculptural form. Assisted Sean Miller
• WARPlite, Interdisciplinary Studio Art, Summer B, 2020: Critical thinking, problem solving, and creative activity in collaboration and cross media artmaking. Assisted Moe Beitiks Megan
• Making and Meaning, Interdisciplinary Studio Art, Summer B, 2019: Explored the creation of art in combination with non-art related research. Assisted Annemarie Furlong
• Concept and Strategies, Advanced Sculpture, Fall 2018: Emphasis on sculptural materials such as mixed media, metal fabrication and casting. Assisted Sergio Vega
October 2021 - April 2022
Gallery Director, 4most gallery, Gainesville, FL
• Curated exhibitions during the 2021/2022 academic calendar
• Supervised Interns
January - April 2019
Gallery Assistant, University Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Exhibition Installation
• Opening Reception Preparation
2015-2016
Teaching Assistant, Department of Painting, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• Moderated painting students’ seminar
• Facilitated studio visits
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2021-2022
• Artist Residency Program, Warphaus, University of Florida: Practicing art and managing the studio facility
• Emerging Artists Membership, Strata Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2021
• Artist Talk at The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Presented my research to the Art Education class: Collections as Drawing
- Presented my research to the Teaching Art in Higher Education students
• Artist Talk at Strata Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015
• 89 plus, Nubuke Foundation, East Legon, Accra, Ghana Juried by Hans Obrist Ulrich
• Vice President, Association of Painting Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
• “Here and There,” Strata Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• “Dialectics of Memory,” Larimer Art Center, Palatka, FL
• “Inseparable Entities,” Fried Fruit Gallery, Wilmington, NC
• “Language of Space,” Freshasfruit Gallery, DeLand, FL
• “A Table of Content,” Constance and Linton Grinter Gallery of International Art, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• “Risen Compass,” 4Most Gallery, Gainesville, FL
SELECTED GROUPEXHIBITIONS
2022
• “The Medium is the Message – African Diaspora Story,” Wilmington Community Art, Wilmington, NC
• “The Medium is the Message – African Diaspora Story,” Grizzly Grizzly Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2021
• “Generously Entangled,” Tiger Strikes Asteroid Gallery, Greenville, SC
• “The Medium is the Message” – The African Diaspora Story,” Taylor Gallery, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
• “A Prologue,” Strata Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• “Through Black Eyes,” Firehouse Gallery, Newberry, FL
• “Untitled – MFA Thesis Exhibition,” University Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2020
• “Reitz Union Exhibition,” Reitz Union Gallery, Gainesville, FL
• “FACC Juried Exhibition,” University Gallery, School of Art and Art History, Gainesville, FL
2019
• “ART-SCIENCE,” Gary R. Libby Gallery, School of Art and Art History University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• “IF YOU LOVE ME,” Kumasi Railway Loco-Shed, Kumasi, Ghana
2016
• “The Gown Must Go Town,” Museum of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana
2015
• “Silence Between the Lines,” Prime Motors Limited Warehouse, Kumasi, Ghana
COLLABORATION EXPERIENCE
2022
“Exquisite Moving Corpse,” Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy
“Exquisite Moving Corpse,” Experiments in the Cinema, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Curated by Chip Lord, Jack Massing and Sean Miller.
“Exquisite Moving Corpse” Microscope Gallery, New York. Featured Artists: Sergio Vega, Ken Friedman, Mary Mattingly, Tea Mäkipää, Mel Chin, Hasan Elahi, Oliver Herring, Cyriaco Lopes, Emiko Omori, Mark Dion, Tony Oursler etc.
“Transforming Art from Commodity to Gift: Kąrî'Kạchä Seid'ou's Silent Revolution in the Kumasi College of Art.” MIT Press. MIT Press, May 3, 2021. https://direct.mit.edu/afar/article-abstract/54/2/22/100726/Transforming-Art-from-Commodity-to-Gift-ka-ri-ka.
Abatemarco, Michael. “Emmanuel Manu Opoku at Strata Gallery.” Santa Fe New Mexican, May 6, 2022. https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/art/exhibitionism/emmanuel-manu-opoku-at-strata-gallery/article_3b0cf208-c57d-11ec-b241-4b1568ff0fac.html.
Murphy, Trisha. “Ghanaian Artist to Display Unique Style at Larimer Exhibit.” Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida, February 17, 2022. https://www.palatkadailynews.com/local-news/ghanaian-artist-display-unique-style-larimer-exhibit.
Diallo, Aïcha. “Department of Now.” Contemporary And, July 4, 2017. https://contemporaryand.com/fr/magazines/past-present-and-future-about-art-in-kumasi/
“The Medium Is the Message: The African Diaspora Story.” Grizzly Grizzly, January 8, 2022. https://www.grizzlygrizzly.com/new-page-51.
“Person in the Mirror (2021) Acrylic on Canvas.” Passatiempo. PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine subscriptions, May 6, 2022. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/pasatiempo/20220506/281784222674738.
2020
• Harold Garde Studio Art Scholarship, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Outstanding Student - International Students Award, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• FACC Juried Exhibition Award, College of the Arts Dean’s Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2019
• James J. Rizzi Scholarship, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL