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Female Artist of the Year
Female Artist Of The Year Award goes to…(drumroll)…Sarah Owusu!
The female artist of the year nominees were the most oustanding in the arts this year. From artist/designer Tolu Coker who we interviewed for the fashion issue earlier this year to the extraordinary Nat Bowen who we spoke to for issue eleven as she shared with us her immensely colourful journey on how her artistic career begun, to Sarah Owusu, self-taught Ghanaian British artist who's unique style and exuberant strokes express and reclaim rich African history. As another exhilarating year draws closer to its end, let's celebrate our three nominees. These are women who have stood out tremendously by carving out new spaces in the arts and are paving the way for the next generation of female artists to create freely, be themselves and not feel as though they have to create art that is understood by everyone but rather art that has a strong message.
2021's Female Artist Of The Year winner Sarah Owusu studied Pyschology at the University of Essex earning a BSc (hons) but soon realised that painting was what she wanted to pursue, primarily focusing on beautiful portraiture that asserts Black-British and African culture by painting those who have helped to shape black and African history, sometimes painting distorted self-portraits and highlighting black facial features that once and maybe still do not conform to the media's perception of beauty.
Each one of these years female artist nominees has redefined what it means to be an artist in the 21st century; community being at the heart of what they create. Sarah Owusu noticed the lack of black female artists in the art world, and it was at this moment that she decided to be the black artist that would be visible, a role model for other young black girls to see and believe that they can also become an artist and ascend to new heights in that space.She describes one of her career highlights as being invited to present two of her paintings of Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Africa Business Summit in London Business School.
Similarily, British-Nigerian, Tolu Coker is undoubtedly one of the most innovative designers we've seen this year, she may not have won this years award but she still gets our vote for pioneering a new move as a female artist. Tolu launched her fashion label in 2018 and has since used it as a vehicle for creating equity and social change.
And of course, Nat Bowen came out of the other side of the pandemic with flying colours, leading in a unique path with her vibrant and colourful paintings. The interview we had earlier this year was a beautiful moment of her 'life in colour' and for us to hear her dynamic story, she is a true fighter and exemplary woman in the arts. Nat's use of colour demonstrates the importance of colour and the affect it has on your mental stability.
With the latest technological advancements, and fast moving pace of the art world, we can't help but to feel excited to see how our nominees will evolve.
We celebrate the achievements of all our nominees and a massive congratulations to our Female Artist Of The Year Sarah Owusu.