Ibrahim Mahama (artist)

Ibrahim Mahama (born 1987 in Tamale, Ghana) is a Ghanaian contemporary artist known for his large-scale installations, sculptures and architectural interventions that explore global trade, commodification, labor, economic inequality, migration, and the socio-political legacies of colonialism in Africa. Mahama transforms everyday materials, such as jute sacks used in commodity exchange and abandoned infrastructure, into works that engage with collective memory and historical narratives.

Mahama has exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, Kochi-Muziris Biennale and Documenta, and his work is held in public collections worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Mahama is the founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Red Clay Studio, and Nkrumah Voli-ni in Tamale, which serve as platforms for exhibitions, research, and community-based learning. In 2025, Mahama became the first person from the African continent to top ArtReview’s Power 100, honoured both for his artistic practice and for creating infrastructures that support other artists in realising their visions. In 2025 he also received the Art Basel & UBS Artist of the Year Award and the Gold Award in the Established Artist category at the inaugural Art Basel Awards.

Ibrahim Mahama is known for his large-scale installations made from jute sacks previously used to transport cocoa beans and charcoal, which are emblematic of Ghana’s commodity dependency. His work explores themes of commodity, migration, globalization, and economic exchange. Mahama’s ambitious installations often transform urban spaces and are a commentary on labor and decay.His notable projects include "Out of Bounds" at the 2015 Venice Biennale and "A Straight Line Through the Carcass of History" which has been shown in various locations worldwide, including Athens, Kassel, and New York. These works critically examine the impact of the material history of post-colonial Ghana within the context of global commerce.