samuel kwasi akonnor
Spyno-Pencil
Show me the way and I may forget
ARTIST: Painter | Art Educator
MEDIUM: Acrilic, OILs, Pencil, pen
LOCATION: GHANA
Bio
Samuel Kwasi Akonnor is a Ghanaian contemporary visual artist whose practice centres on disability, identity, and human resilience. He was born in Suhum in the Eastern Region of Ghana and spent most of his childhood in Accra New Town, where his early interest in drawing gradually developed into a serious artistic passion. Growing up, Samuel was diagnosed with cervical dystonia, a neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions in the neck. This challenge, rather than limiting him, deepened his artistic vision and pushed him to create visual expressions that reflect both vulnerability and inner strength.
Samuel’s work is usually semi-abstract, often influenced by collage techniques, symbolism, and gentle yet expressive colour palettes. Through his paintings he addresses issues surrounding disability, stigma, and the emotional experiences of living in a society where people with physical conditions are frequently marginalized. Art became Samuel’s language for healing and self-understanding, and eventually a platform for raising awareness about the lived realities of people with disabilities in Ghana and across the world. Over the years, he has presented his works in several exhibitions, both in Ghana and internationally. With the support of Madam Marvis Asantewaa Opoku, CEO of Roshelle Brago Boakye Foundation (ROBB FOUNDATION), Samuel participated in the Global Disabilities Summit Art Expo in Berlin, Germany, curated by Dr. Francis Ankyiah (Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba-Art Education Department).
Samuel was also honoured with the Best Artist at the Peace inclusion Pieces Global Disabilities Art Festival in Japan, 2025, a milestone that highlights his growing international impact and contribution to disability-centred art. His well-known piece, “Within the Trauma of Disability,” helped introduce his artistic voice to wider audiences and earned recognition for its emotional power and originality. Today, Samuel stands as a courageous representative of disability-centred art in Ghana. Beyond producing artwork, he advocates for understanding, empathy, and inclusive participation within the creative community.
His artistic journey demonstrates how personal obstacles can be transformed into meaningful artistic statements, and how art can inspire dialogue, healing, and change. Samuel continues to create from Accra, using his craft to celebrate resilience, human value, and freedom through art.
Artist Statement; Lost in Belongingness
Painting with forceful brushwork reveals the experience of cervical dystonia condition which causes my head to spontaneously shift backward in speech. By transforming my individual vulnerability into visual poetic expressions. The combination of realistic elements with semi abstract techniques in my artwork matches my experience of controlled movements alongside uncontrolled movements which appear in both colourful polychrome and monochrome acrylic paint products.
I use both smooth and rough textures within these self-portraits to present physically the exhausting experience of keeping certain thoughts private while engaging my viewers to touch first-hand. My artwork shows deliberate opposition between defined anatomical elements and loose abstract movements which depicts the complicated connection between my deliberate artistic skills and the uncontrollable nervous system within me. These works in my exhibition act both as my personal documentation as well as establishing a link between verbal and nonverbal communication to show the invisible issues faced by people with neurological difference. My philosophy is “Show me the way and I may forget
Portfolio & Gallery
Explore a curated selection of artworks that highlight the artist’s creative journey, cultural inspirations, and evolving visual language
type: painting
medium: acrylic on canvas
size: 40 X 30 cm
year: 2024
Within the Trauma of Disability
This artwork reflects the idea that art communicates beyond words, capturing the silent emotional struggles that come with disability. It reveals how stigma and isolation create layers of psychological pain, expressed visually through muted tones, symbolic cuts, and masked expressions. By blending personal experience with scientific meaning, the work illustrates how emotional distress can manifest physically, and how art becomes a form of therapy that transforms trauma into healing. Ultimately, it challenges society to see persons with disabilities not through limitation, but through their resilience, depth, and creative voice.
type: PAINTING
medium: acrylic on canvas
size: 106 x 75 cm
year: 2022
The Fall I Never Spoke About
This artwork portrays the hidden realities often faced by persons with disabilities. Through the image of a bicycle accident, it reflects my personal struggle with communication and public speaking—experiences that pushed me to improvise in life, sometimes with painful consequences. The upside-down figure symbolizes the emotional imbalance, regret, and unspoken challenges that society rarely sees or understands. Yet, through this visual narrative, art becomes my voice, revealing what words cannot express. It is a call for empathy, reminding us that persons with disabilities also carry invisible stories and sorrows, and that art provides a universal language through which we can communicate without fear of judgment or mockery.
type: painting
medium: painted strawboard on canvas
size: 59.7 x 92.5 cm
year: 2024
The Power of Embrace
This artwork projects a deep sense of love, care, and equality—values that continue to shape Ghana and Africa as a whole. The gentle embrace in the portrait celebrates the power of human connection and reminds us that true love has the ability to uplift and strengthen every individual, regardless of their background or condition. The warm yellow figure against the dark background symbolizes hope rising out of challenges, while the nurturing gesture reflects how compassion can elevate a person towards their dreams. Through this piece, the artist advocates for a society where love becomes a unifying bridge and where every person is valued with dignity and equal respect.
type: painting
medium: acrylic on canvas
size: 59.7 x 92.5 cm
year: 2023
The world of Restrictions
The World of Restrictions is a visual poem that reflects the fragile connection between humanity and the world we share. This piece symbolizes connection, dynamism, and the urgent need for inclusion within Ghana and beyond. Through this work, I translate individual vulnerability into a powerful, universal language — the language of art.The dominant red monochrome is intentional, red, in this composition, becomes more than color It is the heat of emotional suffocation, the pulse of suppressed pain, the silent cry for acceptance, and the burning resilience of marginalized bodies who continue to rise. Many individuals like me are restricted from their basic rights: stigmatized, bullied, deprived of love, and blocked from accessing education and opportunity. I was once a victim of these limitations, and this artwork embodies the weight of those unspoken sorrows. Here, my struggle to voice out my worries and the trauma carried for years becomes a visual landscape. As an artist, creation is my form of communication and advocacy — a way to speak even when society chooses not to hear. The inspiration for this piece was born from a painful memory, a conversation among educated students mocking a blind person, saying, “What was this blind man doing at the entertainment show?” Their laughter revealed a disturbing mindset — a belief that people with special needs are unworthy of joy, presence, or privilege. This artwork challenges that mindset. It confronts the ignorance that continues to silence and exclude
type: painting
medium: acrylic on canvas
size: 59.7 x 39.3 cm
year: 2025
Held by the Earth
This artwork reflects my personal relationship with the world around me—both natural and artificial. The relaxed posture against the landscape shows nature as a place of comfort, healing, and gentle companionship. Yet the contrasting colours and shifting textures reveal another side of nature, one that can feel harsh, distant, or unkind, especially in moments when I struggle to express myself. Through this visual story, I explore how my surroundings shape my emotional journey, sometimes lifting me with calmness and beauty, and other times challenging me with silence and roughness.
type: painting
medium: acrylic on canvas
size: 59.7 x 92.5 cm
year: 2024
The Inner Pain
The Inner Pain” is a visual reflection of my personal journey , a translation of silent agony into color, form, and texture. Living with cervical dystonia, I often experience moments when my body trembles and my speech delays, creating a wave of dizziness that overwhelms me. At times, I must sit before I collapse; other times, I simply fall. These moments of vulnerability shape not only my body but also my art. In this work, I pour my emotions directly onto the canvas, transforming physical pain into visual poetry. The painting becomes a mirror of my struggle, the blurred vision, the delayed words, and the heavy silence that follows. Each stroke is a whisper of the frustration, resilience, and beauty found in enduring pain. Art, for me, is language my voice when words fail. My brushes and colors become my translators, speaking the emotions my lips cannot. Through my paintings and drawings, I reach out to connect, to be understood, and to give form to what cannot be spoken. . “The Inner Pain” is not only about suffering; it is about transformation turning pain into power, silence into speech, and limitation into creative freedom.
Artistic and Social Impact
Akonnor’s impact lies in transforming personal adversity into a public catalyst for education, advocacy, and inclusive dialogue, thereby strengthening both community representation and the global discourse on disability and human resilience.
Advocacy & Awareness for Disability Rights:
He uses his art as a direct tool for advocacy, challenging stigma and stereotypes. His exhibitions and public projects serve as platforms to raise awareness about the lived realities, inequalities, and resilience of people with disabilities in Ghana and globally.
Fostering Dialogue & Empathy:
His work is designed to inspire conversations that are often overlooked. By visualizing themes of stigma, mental health, and belonging, he prompts audiences to engage with empathy, leading to greater social understanding and potential change.
International Representation & Recognition:
His participation in global forums (like the Berlin Summit) and winning awards (such as the Best Artist for Peace in Japan) have placed Ghanaian disability-centred art on the international map. This amplifies the discourse on inclusion from a Global South perspective.
Two Strong Pillars behind Samuel
Dr. Francis Ankyiah
Dr. Francis Ankyiah a Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba-Art Education Department the Curator of the Lost in Belongingness Exhibition has been of great support.
Mad. Marvis Asantewaa Opoku
Mad. Marvis Asantewaa Opoku, the CEO of Roshelle Brago Boakye Foundation (ROBB FOUNDATION) has also supported me greatly.
Save the Date: Live Artist Conversation
Join us for an inspiring live interview with Samuel Kwasi Akonnor as we explore his creative journey, philosophy, and featured works. Join us as he takes us behind the scenes of his creative world.
📅 Date: [to be published soon]
🔗 Join the Session: [to be published soon]