Art In Focus # 2

Sheila Fuseini's artwork can be best described as a collection of metaphorical doors and windows, which beckon the viewer to delve into each piece and explore it on a visceral level. While her work often conveys personal narratives, she purposefully maintains open-ended interpretations, allowing the viewer to discover their own connection and incorporate it into their individual experience.

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Rather than aiming for a realistic representation of identifiable objects or scenes, Fuseini's primary focus lies in capturing and conveying a particular "feeling" or evoking a visceral atmosphere. She achieves this through a skillful interplay of color, mark-making, and, at times, texture. These artistic elements come together harmoniously to support her unique approach and create a captivating experience for the viewer.

Sheila Fuseini works primarily in two separate mediums: acrylics and leather (specifically, pure leather off-cut). When working with acrylics, she embraces a fun and spontaneous experience, where intuition and her current emotions play a significant role. These elements are expressed through her choice of palette, shapes, and mark-making techniques. As each painting or piece evolves, it takes on a life of its own, guiding her through layers and influencing the next steps in the process. This approach enhances the visual narrative, enriches the overall process, and contributes to the finished work.

The process of Fuseini's leather collage work follows a similar path, albeit with some distinctions. The main difference lies in the fact that much of the work is done mentally, as she is unable to "paint over" or remove any unwanted marks in this case. The deconstructed forms she creates invite the viewer to engage with the piece, considering the meanings they may assign to the materials, shapes, and colors involved. Fuseini's utilization of leather off-cut aligns with her belief in the concept of "picking up the pieces," which extends beyond its literal interpretation and holds profound philosophical significance in her personal life.

Currently, Fuseini's body of work explores and masters the use of Tulle fabric/Mesh as a substrate for her leather collage pieces, further expanding her artistic exploration and expression.

Sheila Fuseini is a practicing Artist living and working in Accra, Ghana, born in 1983, with a bachelor's degree (BFA) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2010). She read Painting and Sculpture and majored in Painting. She is an abstract Artist, working primarily in two mediums; acrylic paint and leather; she makes collage pieces with leather. Sheila draws inspiration from nature but draws more from her personal life experience and ambiguous and fleeting moments. Her focus is on the ‘’internal world’’ and so most of her work is guided by intuition rather than reference materials.

For those who may have missed our 'In Conversation With SHEILA FUSEINI, catch the Live Q&A Session recording?here: