Francis Annan Affotey

 Ever since it opened in downtown Milwaukee in October of 2012, AYZHA FINE ARTS GALLERY & BOUTIQUE has carried the compelling works of painter Francis Annan Affotey (Af-foe-TAY) of Accra, Ghana. We no longer import his art, however, because, happily, he has moved to Milwaukee. Now he brings his new works to the gallery in person. Francis was born and raised in Accra. As part of a large family, he found childhood pleasure through drawing and painting. He graduated from Accra’s Ghanatta College of Art and Design, winning three of the school’s five top awards — for still life, imagination and composition, and abstract drawing. Annan joined the Revolution Art Organization and displayed his work in several exhibitions in Accra. In 2013, Annan helped found the African Young Artist Organization (AYAO), which is dedicated to supporting African youth in the arts through programs and exhibitions. Annan’s works are based on abstract concepts, pointillism, and landscapes. Also, using African cloth and paint, he has created a fun and unique style of clothing. In addition to speaking English, Annan is fluent in Twi, Ga, Ewe and Hausa. And he is a master salsa dancer. In May of 2014, he came to America — specifically, to the Milwaukee area — where on July 3, 2014 he married Sarah Ehlinger, who had attended the University of Ghana and worked on a sanitation project there. He has quickly made a splash in the Milwaukee art scene. He was a runner-up in the prestigious Pfister Hotel’s artist-in-residence contest and got the consolation prize of an exhibit at the InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel.