Godfried Donkor Ghana, 1964

Godfried Donkor was born in Ghana in 1964, then moved to London, England, in 1973 when he was eight years old. Although known for his painting and collage work, Donkor's original intention as an artist, from the age of 14, was to be a fashion designer. It was only at the urging of his teachers to try a different medium that he purchased some paint and brushes and began painting. Soon afterwards, he switched his entire focus to painting and was from thereon out a visual artist, but still with a fondness for fashion design, and sought a way to bridge the two throughout his career. After finding his new medium, Donkor began to study art and art history at Saint Martin's College of Art. After receiving his BA in Fine Art, he went on to attend postgraduate courses in the Fine Arts at Escola Massana in Barcelona, Spain,
before completing an MA in African Art History from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, in 1995.

 

Donkor's work inspiration comes from the historical and sociological issues shared in the history of the African and European people, especially, the commercialization of the human and the rise of the African American.

 

Using a variety of methods, Donkor works in mixed-media creating painting, collage, and printmaking as well as video, photography and print works. Mostly, he works in collages, in which he uses mixed-media including as newspapers, lace, sheet music and other paper materials as a background to majority of his pieces. On top of the background, Donkor layers illustrations and photographic images that often juxtapose one another. Donkor's interest in collage began when he was a student at St. Martin's College of Art in London, where he instantly connected with the medium. His original intention with collages was as a preparation for his other works and paintings; however, others saw them as works of art in themselves and encouraged himor to continue experimenting. Of his inclination towards collaging, Donkor says: "With collage, symbols become a language... [...]. Collage can be a very expressive medium, very instant and direct, [but] I think I’m drawn to using images that may seem to be contrasting in a harmonious way."

Donkor also works with fabrics and clothing design, separating him from his other types of works. Since the age of 14, he wanted to pursue fashion and was able to bring his love of fashion out through his work.
He shows off his fashion design and use of fabric in series such as the Jamestown Masquerade. Many of his pieces showcase an outfit on a mannequin with no head, showing off the art in the fabric and fashion he
has created. Donkor also was approached by Pumato design the Football Kits for the Ghana National Football Team in 2012, allowing him to create a design and theme behind his birth nation's team.