From the ceramics studios of KNUST to prestigious galleries in New York, Eugene Ofori Agyei (B.A.'18) has carved a path that defies convention and celebrates the transformative power of art.

His journey, from a curious student in Kumasi to an internationally recognized artist and educator, is a testament to resilience, passion, and the enduring influence of his KNUST roots.

Eugene’s love for ceramics began long before he stepped into KNUST’s Department of Industrial Art. As a child, he was captivated by roadside potters in Ghana, marvelling at their ability to shape fragile clay into enduring forms.

But when he enrolled at KNUST to study ceramics, the tactile thrill of clay became his calling. “Working by hand felt deeply satisfying, even therapeutic,” he recalls. “Clay claimed me, and I, too, began making something out of nothing.”

Yet his choice was met with scepticism. As the eldest son, Eugene faced pressure to pursue a “practical” career in STEM. At his 2018 graduation, his mother asked the pivotal question: “Eugene, what do you want to do with your life?” His answer “I want to be an artist”, marked the moment he vocalized a dream that would carry him across continents.

Mentors, milestones, and making history

A turning point came when Professor Jeannie Hulen, a Fulbright Scholar at KNUST, introduced Eugene to the possibility of graduate studies in the U.S. With her mentorship, he applied to six universities and was accepted into all. In 2020, he began his MFA at the University of Florida (UF), becoming the first in his family to pursue advanced art studies.

The transition was stark. At KNUST, he’d learned to dig and process raw clay; at UF, materials were readily available. But his KNUST training had instilled something deeper: resourcefulness. “I held up my hands when asked for tools,” he laughs. “I realized my strength wasn’t in what I had, but in what I could do with what I had.”

At UF, professors like Anna Calluori Holcombe urged Eugene to exhibit his work immediately, rather than waiting for graduation. He took the advice to heart, earning accolades such as the Carlos Malamud Prize ($10,000) and fellowships from NCECA and Artaxis. His mixed-media sculptures, exploring displacement, identity, and home through ceramics, batik, and found objects, caught the attention of collectors like Franz, Duke of Bavaria, who acquired his pieces for museum collections.

In 2023, he graduated and secured the prestigious Robert C. Turner Teaching Fellowship at Alfred University, New York. Today, his work is exhibited globally, but his vision stretches further.

Bringing the world to Ghana

Eugene’s next chapter is rooted in giving back. He plans to establish a large-scale artist residency in Ghana, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and elevating Ghana’s contemporary art scene.

 Beyond that, he dreams of exhibiting at MoMA, the Venice Biennale, and other blue-chip institutions, but his mission remains grounded. “KNUST taught me to turn limitations into opportunities,” he says. “Now, I want to create those opportunities for others.”