Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi (born 30 April 1995) also known by the artist name Prince Gyasi is a Ghanaian international visual artist. He is the co-founder of Boxedkids, a non-profit organization helping kids from Accra get an education.
Early life
Gyasi had his secondary education at the Accra Academy senior high school in Accra.
Career
Gyasi started taking pictures in 2011 and bought his first iPhone in 2014 which is the primary tool he uses in creating his art pieces. He began with snapshots of friends, family and models from his hometown of Ghana and then realized he could seriously use his phone as an arts creation tool, as a means of expression.
He using an iPhone to shoot is a way to distinguish his art from other visual artists and photographers to break the codes of this singular and elitist art. His work is all about conveying feelings through colors and giving the floor to the people that are left aside from the society. He indeed considers his use of colors as a source of therapy to his audience. Motherhood, Fatherhood, childhood can be considered as his most characteristic themes.
Exhibition
Prince Gyasi was signed to Nil Gallery Paris in 2018 which gave him the chance to exhibit his art pieces at multiple art fairs in the USA.
He has exhibited in the Seattle Contemporary Art fair, Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Artsy & Context Art Miami and pulse Contemporary Art Fair (Art Basel Miami). Prince has also exhibited some of his works at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in South Africa. He exhibited at the Paris Photo at the Grand Palais Ephémère for the first time in November 11 to 14 of 2021.
KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival
Prince was the leading artist for the 10th anniversary of the KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival. His solo show took place in a three-storey building in Kyoto, entirely devoted to his work.
Group Show at the Museo de Arte do Rio
Prince's works also got featured in the Group exhibition "Um defeito de cor" at the Museo de Arte do Rio from September 10th, 2022 until May 21st, 2023.
Collaborations
A Great Day In Accra
In December 2018, he got commissioned by Apple Inc. to work on a project in Ghana titled A Great Day In Accra to push the Hiplife music genre in Ghana to the world. In this project he shot Ghanaian hiplife musicians like Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Reggie Rockstone, Okyeame Kwame, Rab Bakari, Abrewa Nana, Hammer of The Last Two, Beat Menace, Gurunkz, Joey B, EL (rapper), DJ Breezy, Stargo, Kirani Ayat, Akan (Musician), Kiddblack, Ansah Live, Imani N.A.D, Toyboi, Kwesi Arthur and Shadow.
GQ Summer/Spring Issue 2020
In December 2019, Prince got commissioned by GQ Style to shoot Burna Boy for their Summer/Spring Issue 2020 in Ikoyi, Lagos. The shoot was titled "Global Giant" because of the release of Burna's album "African Giant".
Off-White Collaboration
Prince was featured in Virgil Abloh’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection Off-White brand which premiered in February on Imaginary TV. He performed alongside Virgil Abloh’s new creative cast; Milanese choreographer, Michele Rizzo and Japanese DJ, Kiri Okuyama, all rocking apparel from the brands new line.
Prince also modeled the new Off-White SS21 collection which was featured on Farfetch in March 2021.
Naomi Campbell for Madame Figaro
In 26 March 2021, Prince got commissioned by Madame Figaro France to shoot Naomi Campbell for the cover image of that issue. The shoot was styled by Jenke Ahmed Tailly and was shot in Lagos during Arise Fashion Week.
GQ Magazine October Issue
In September 2021, Prince was commissioned by GQ Magazine to shoot Wizkid for its October issue in Accra, Ghana. Wizkid was crowned “King of Afropop” by GQ Magazine after this shoot which was styled by Karen Binns.
Pirelli 60th Anniversary Calendar
In 2024, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Cal, he became the first Black photographer to produce an edition of the calendar. In this issue Prince shot the following people for The Cal, they are Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, Naomi Campbell, Margot Lee Shetterly, Angela Bassett, Amanda Gorman, Tiwa Savage, Idris Elba, Jeymes Samuel, Amoako Boafo, Teyana Taylor and Marcel Desailly.