R O MANTEY

Initial playful pursuit of lines, shapes, colours, and texture led the young Richard Okyere Mantey (R. O. Mantey) to seek further expression in art. Hailing from the vibrant culture of Larteh–Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana, the artist with a passion for sustainable art ideally combines his artistic expertise with an intense commitment to the environment.

R.O. Mantey’s artistic journey ignited during his third-grade class at Adabraka Presbyterian Primary School in Accra. He painted a vibrant football pitch. This art piece stood out, capturing his own passion for art. This unique piece garnered the attention of the whole school and earned him a ‘Best Art Award,’ a turning point that solidified his love for art. His friends came to him eager to learn some techniques. This fueled his artistic drive even further.

R.O. Mantey’s art combines texture and vivid colours and blends artistic expressions with elements to produce exquisite pieces. These creations carry a deep message of sustainability, reminding us of the beauty and significance of nature. He repurposes existing objects and materials with the aim of minimizing the negative impacts our insatiable demands have on the environment.

The artist’s journey began with an innate passion for drawing and sketching. He learned a lot by following and engaging with various artist friends from his immediate world – Adabraka a suburb in Ghana, lecturer friends from KNUST and also friends from Europe and Chicago, USA; Kwei Foli, David Charway, Adjei Sowah, Hector Ofori, and Reuben Glover, among others. These artists helped him perfect his painting skills and the blend of colours on a surface.

R.O. Mantey’s artistic journey took a unique turn as he veered towards abstraction. He explored shapes, forms, symbols, colour application as well as different mediums. This is where he started exploring and creating more works in wood. The artist created various impressions on wood surfaces and painted them with bright hues.

Today, the artist has taken upon the mantle of sustainable art. In an interview, he made a point; “We do not need to destroy anything to build anything. Nature and the effect of nurture is the best sculptor.” This has heavily influenced his art practice. In his recent works, the needs of society and the end users are satisfied while the environment is preserved.

The adinkra symbols heavily inspire R.O. Mantey. These are visual symbols with historical and philosophical meanings. One symbol permeating his works is the “Nkyinkyim” – Twisting. This is a symbol of initiative and dynamism. R.O. Mantey has a wide range of artworks. He mainly salvages pieces of wood, metals from construction sites, carpentry shops, among other places. These found objects are repurposed to form mosaics. Woods are sometimes carved and painted in abstract forms to tell stories or depict activities of his world and the influences that pertain.

High profiles have collected the works of the artist over the years. These include; President of the Republic of Ghana H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo; Former President H.E. J.A. Kuffour; Former President H.E. J.E.A. Mills; Renowned Boxer Azuma Nelson, among others. Richard was commissioned by the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat to create artworks for the celebration of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee in 2007 for the Kotoka International