Lasso Gallery is honored to present the work of internationally acclaimed Ghanaian artist Paa Joe.

Graphic by Megan Moore

The artist is a cultural icon in Ghana; working with the elements of life, death and the transition to the afterlife. For six decades the artist has created “fantasy coffins”. Paa Joe creates work that celebrates the individual’s life and interests, (a lion for a public leader, green onion for a farmer etc.)

This tradition was started by his uncle Kane Kwei who pioneered the first figurative coffin in the early 1950’s. The tradition was furthered by Paa Joe who has taken this craft to great heights, these coffins are no longer seen as solely vehicles to the afterlife but art objects.

Paa Joe was propelled to global acclaim in 1989 following a show at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. Since that time his works have gone on to exhibit all over the globe. Acquired by permanent collections like The British Museum (London, England), The Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, USA), The National Museum of Funeral History (Houston, USA), and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Boston, USA). Also collected by private dignitaries and even a US president.

The artist's work has been documented in two books Going into Darkness and The Buried Treasures of the Ga.

There has also been a full-length film made, Paa Joe & The Lion. This film will be shown here in Amarillo On December 28th.