Prof Ablade Glover

Glover is a prominent Ghanaian artist and educator, born in 1934. He has gained international acclaim over the years and is considered a seminal figure in the West African art scene. His artworks are held in prestigious private and public collections worldwide, including the Imperial Palace of Japan, UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Glover has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards, including the Order of the Volta in Ghana, and he holds the distinction of being a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Returning to Ghana after completing his doctorate, Glover served as an Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Art Education, and Dean of the College of Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology until 1994. During his time at the University of Kumasi, he founded the Artists Alliance Gallery, which showcases his own work and features other significant artists as well as local artifacts.

Glover’s artistic style gracefully oscillates between abstraction and realism. His preferred subjects often depict vast urban landscapes, bustling markets, shantytowns, and studies of Ghanaian women. When asked about his focus on painting women, he highlights their courage and elegance, expressing admiration for the strength they display in their everyday lives.

Throughout his career, Glover has been honored with numerous awards, including the Flagstar Award by ACRAG (the Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana) in 1998, and the distinguished alumni award from the African-American Institute in New York City. He also received the Order of the Volta in Ghana in 2007 and the Millennium Excellence Award in 2010. As a respected artist and scholar, he is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.