Glass Framed Female Form Painting on Yellow from Ghana, "Live-Long"

“Hi! My name is Chessed Nti Mensah. I was born in 1989 in Mankesim. I am the third child of Mr. Steven Nti Mensah, who is an author, and Faustina Nti Mensah. I have five siblings. I am a painter. My friends say that I am humble, creative, and love to smile. They say that I am passionate about life, love, words, and music.

“I was born an artist. Art has been my best friend and my whole life since childhood. Drawing and creating art makes me happy. It gives me a sense of purpose. I am attracted to the challenges that come with creating something new. I developed my art through passion and practice, but I have to give credit to the Ghanatta College of Art and Design.

“Practicing, experimenting, and the determination to turn imagination into reality was how I mastered my art. I use canvas, glass, and copper wire. I buy all of my materials from the market. Copper wire is a bit difficult to twist into certain shapes, but it is fun to work with. My favorite thing about my art is the entire process of creating, from preparing the canvas to drawing in pencil, as well as coloring and bending the wires. Originality and neatness are my hallmarks. I draw inspiration from life. I learn from everything around me.

“Starting out on my own has been an interesting experience, with different challenges every step of the way. But, getting this far is reason enough to believe that I can get anywhere from here. That said, I can’t forget my second and third year in the College of Art, where it appeared almost impossible to see myself graduating. I was starting out on my own and had to fend for myself as my parents relocated to the eastern region of Ghana. I was doing petty trading and working as a photographer at school in order to make a living and pay my fees. But, I made it with the support of my big brother.

“My dream is to travel the world with my craft. I hope my creations reach out to the world. I want to be fully equipped with all the means to create all the things that I imagine. I want to be a great poet and artist who inspires others and touches lives. I believe being on NOVICA’s platform will help me realize my dream, and I must say that I am so excited about that.”