Rosemary Esinam Damalie

Born 1993 in Accra
Ghana

Rosemary Esinam Damalie is an artist and curator based in Accra and Tamale. Possessing a deep-rooted desire to express herself creatively. She holds a Fine Art Degree in Painting and Sculpture from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. Her artistic career has unfolded with Damalie actively participating in numerous noteworthy exhibitions, showcasing her talent and vision. These exhibitions include "Cornfields in Accra" (2016) and "Orderly Disorderly" (2017), both organized by blaxTARLINES KUMASI a collective she is a member of. In 2018, she earned a place in the Kuenyehia Trust shortlist exhibition, where she was 2nd runner-up for the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art. Currently, Damalie holds the position of General Manager and Workshop Coordinator at the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) in Tamale, an institution founded by the highly regarded artist Ibrahim Mahama. At SCCA, Damalie has made significant contributions to the art world through her involvement in two retrospective exhibitions: "A Retrospective of Galle Winston Kofi Dawson: In Pursuit of Something Beautiful Perhaps..." (March 2019) and "A Retrospective of Agyeman Ossei: Akutia: Blindfolding the Sun and The Poetics of Peace" (September 2020). Furthermore, she has actively participated in three group exhibitions and has successfully facilitated a number of art workshops, shared her expertise and nurtured the talents of aspiring artists. In July to August 2022, Damalie had the opportunity to participate in Documenta Fifteen as an artist in residence under the program CAMP, Notes on Education. This residency provided an ideal platform for collaboration and exploration of the theme of education, bringing together artists, art educators, and researchers in a vibrant exchange of ideas and creative endeavors. In September 2023, Damalie orchestrated the curation of the groundbreaking exhibition titled "Dig Where You Stand, From Coast to Coast – Seke" at the Palais de Lomé in Togo. The exhibition, organized by the African Artist Foundation in Lagos, showcased the works of 20 African and African Diaspora artists. The event emphasized themes of restitution, reparation, and repatriation, while also highlighting the significance of community engagement in the realm of art. Damalie's artistic journey and extensive involvement in the art community speaks volumes about her passion, dedication, and profound contributions to the contemporary art scene in Ghana and abroad.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022

Existing Together: The Future of Coexistence, Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Tamale

2020

This Exhibition Is Untitled, Nubuke Foundation, Accra

2018

Kuenyehia 2018, Shortlist Exhibition, Kuenyehia Trust, Accra

2017

Orderly Disorderly, KNUST Painting & Sculpture & blaxTARLINES, Kumasi

2016

Cornfields in Accra,  KNUST Painting & Sculpture & blaxTARLINES, Kumasi


RESIDENCIES AND FELLOWSHIPS

2023

BEYOND WISHFUL THINKING: Communitarian Living, Intentional Communities, and Sustainable Togetherness as Spatial Strategies for Radical (Feminist) Politics, Villa Romana, Florence

2022

CAMP notes on education, documenta 15, Kassel