Resilience: The Art of Georges Annan Kingsley

Georges S. Annan Kingsley, Ivory Coast artist, was born in 1968 in Accra (Ghana). After completing high school in Grand-Bassam (Ivory Coast) , he pursued a course in Fine Arts at the School of Applied Arts in Bingerville (Cote D’Ivoire). In 1991, he received his Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis on sculpture and began working as a high school art teacher. In 1997, he received his Masters of Arts (Sculpture) from the distinguished National Superior School of Fine Art (Ecole National Superieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA) in Paris, France. He later returned to Africa and began teaching at university art schools in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.

At the age of twelve (12), the artist realized that he was creative and talented. His first portrait was that of his mother. He has created numerous art projects throughout West Africa for foreign embassies and for public monuments in Ivory Coast and in Ghana. He has exhibited his art work in Ivory Coast, Ghana, France, Benin, and South Africa. He has authored three books: [1994- The Art of Teaching Creativity to Children; 1999- How to Become an Artist; and 2007- A Glance From an Artist’s Perspective].

Mr. Kingsley recently came to the United States for political and health reasons. Due to declining health from kidney failure, he has been unable to paint for the past three (3) years. However, he recently challenged himself to overcome the setbacks of his sickness by picking up his paint brush and creating over thirty (30) unique paintings and several sculptures since June 2013. Mr. Kingsley is excited again and resuming his passion- painting and sculpturing, and about starting his new life here in America (Hartford, CT.)