Artist: Amoako Boafo

I make paintings that allow me to celebrate where I come from and what I aspire to be, while sharing unique perspectives and understanding.
- Amoako Boafo

Gagosian presents I Do Not Come to You by Chance, an exhibition of new work by Amoako Boafo. Titled after Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s 2009 novel, it marks the artist’s debut at Gagosian London and his first solo presentation in the United Kingdom. The exhibition incorporates paintings into a transformative and involving design conceived by the artist in collaboration with architect Glenn DeRoche of DeRoche Projects—who previously worked with Boafo on dot.ateliers | Ogbojo, the writers’ and curators’ residency program he established in Ogbojo, Ghana, in 2024—and extends his exploration of space and community.

Boafo’s portraits celebrate the Black figure in a spirit of authenticity and joy, countering the flawed narrative of stereotypes through images that elevate their subjects. Focused on Black identity, his paintings prompt a reexamination of the Western understanding of contemporary Africa and the African diaspora, exploring intimacy, community, and self-determination. Boafo paints the faces and bodies of his subjects with his fingertips, the directness of his touch enhancing their expressive qualities and allowing them to return the viewer’s gaze with charismatic presence. His self-portraits confront the observer with expressions of vulnerability and creativity that challenge traditional narratives of masculinity.

I Do Not Come to You by Chance unfolds across the gallery’s three rooms. Throughout, Boafo integrates his family’s story and local Ghanaian history, layering and interweaving autobiographical contexts. Visitors first encounter a wallpapered entrance before entering a full-scale re-creation of the courtyard of the artist’s childhood home in Ghana. The final room presents Boafo’s first double-sided freestanding painting. Two life-size female figures are incorporated into a screen within a sculptural wood enclosure, the folding panels reimagining nkyinkyim, an Adinkra symbol that represents “twisting.” This is not just a frame for the paintings but a tribute to the resilience of Boafo’s Black figures, reflecting the perseverance needed to navigate societal challenges.

The courtyard installation transcends the conventional gallery interior and invites visitors to view paintings in a formative personal environment. The architectural intervention pays homage to Boafo’s early artistic experiences of communal spaces as sources of collaborative creativity akin to shared studios, where families observed one another, and local artists such as Aplerh-Doku Borlabi, Kwesi Botchway, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, and Eric Adjei Tawiah often gathered to share materials and inspiration. The courtyard symbolizes a space of knowledge; it was here that Boafo learned what it means to share space, an experience that helped shape the foundation of his practice.

Many of the works on view reflect themes of relaxation and play. Among them is one of Boafo’s largest self-portraits to date, Self-Portrait with Cacti (2024). Measuring over four meters (thirteen feet) in length, it depicts the artist in a moment of tranquility, lounging in bed and surrounded by an assortment of lush plants. Another painting, Black Cycle (2025), shows him riding a bike, the fabric of his clothing echoing the exhibition’s wallpapered entrance. The motifs in these paintings continue his exploration of repeated textures and materials.