The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
An innovative multi-arts hub in the heart of Blacktown City.
‘I’ve used these beautiful colours to invite audiences on a journey with me to celebrate the women I’ve painted.’
– Emmanuel Asante
A powerful tribute to the importance of friendship and family is brightening the Max Webber Library windows!
Ghanaian-Australian artist Emmanuel Asante shares portraits of his sister and friends to honour them for their strength and support throughout his life.
Emmanuel Asante is an emerging leader, advocate and visual artist with disability and a member of We Are Studios. He has made a significant impact in community arts and cultural development since arriving in Australia in 2015.
Emmanuel’s portraits feature Catherine, an academic at Western Sydney University, model, leader and mentor, Elizabeth Akosah (Maame Lizzy), a passionate Ghanaian-Australian social worker dedicated to empowering refugee and migrant communities, Isha, model and freelance photographer, and participant in Football Australia’s ‘Our Game’ media mentoring program, and Gloria, Emmanuel’s sister, who has been the subject of many of Emmanuel’s artworks. Gloria has supported and encouraged Emmanuel’s arts practice since the beginning.
Bios
Emmanuel Asante is an emerging leader, advocate and visual artist with disability hailing from Western Sydney who has already made a significant impact through his work in community arts and cultural development since arriving in Australia in 2015. Emmanuel is also a 2024 recipient of Creative Australia’s Kirk Robson Award for Community Arts and Cultural Development.
Emmanuel demonstrates unparalleled dedication and passion in his advocacy, drawing from his personal experience as a young Ghanaian-Australian man and mental health advocate.
As a community leader, Emmanuel prioritises fostering inclusive environments through person-centred arts mentoring, facilitation and advocacy, specifically aimed at empowering d/Deaf and Disabled communities, youth, young men confronting stigma or marginalization, and refugee communities. Additionally, he is dedicated to creating nurturing and inclusive spaces where new and emerging communities are empowered to tell their stories through art.
Emmanuel’s journey is a testament to his unwavering self-determination and resilience in the face of adversity. His contributions to the arts are a poignant reminder of its life-changing potential, highlighting the importance of visibility within the communities he not only represents but fervently champions.
Emmanuel’s career is in its infancy as he sets out on a path of continued education to fulfil his passion for teaching. He aims to uplift children from marginalized backgrounds by blending his roles as an artist and educator.
Furthermore, he envisions creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges to pursue careers as practising artists, both in Australia and his home country of Ghana.
This project is presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council.
