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“Glare” (2020), oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe Renders Expressive Subjects in Shades of Gray

Grace Ebert

Set against bold, impasto backdrops, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe’s portraits emphasize the subjects’ spirits, their emotional states and idiosyncrasies conveyed through facial expressions, gestures, and garments—striped suits, wide-brimmed hats, and bright red bandanas tied around their necks. He renders figures in shades of gray, painting distinctive artworks that embrace the multitudes of Black life through striking and powerful depictions.

The goal, the Ghanaian artist (previously) said in an interview with Juxtapoz, is “to capture what they want to say but cannot say in just one image. So that when you see the figure or the painting, you wonder who the person is.”

Quaicoe’s next solo show will run from April to May 2021 at Roberts Projects in Los Angeles. Until then, see more of his vibrant portraits on Artsy and Instagram.

“Red Bandana on Green Suit” (2020), oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches. All images © Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe courtesy of Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, shared with permission
“Wilde Wilde West” (2020), oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches
“Lady in Sunglasses” (2020), oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches
Left: “DOPE” (2020), oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches. Right: “Green Wall” (2020), oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
“Observing” (2020), oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches
“Wiyaala” (2020), oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches
“Bandana Cowboy” (2020), oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches

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