ROOTED IN VISION: THE POETIC REALISM OF PHILIP KODUAH ASARE

When I first visited Philip’s Instagram page, I was instantly captivated by the finesse, poetic beauty, and spiritual depth of his art. Each piece felt alive—an elegant dialogue between humanity and nature. Reaching out to him felt inevitable. After a few messages, we connected on a video call, where I discovered not only a master of technique but a visionary whose art emerges from an inner world of profound symbolism.

Born in 1992, Philip Koduah Asare is a Nigerian-born Ghanaian visual artist living and working in Lagos, Nigeria. Before painting, he wrote—capturing small details of life in his personal diary, a habit that soon evolved into sketching and, eventually, painting. He studied Fine Art at the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, majoring in painting, and later apprenticed under artist Damilola Opedun. His style blends realism, abstraction, and symbolism, often merging human and plant forms to reflect the interconnectedness of all beings.

We are like plants of different species in the same vegetation called humanity.

Philip’s process begins with visions—intuitive images that arrive unbidden. He sketches them, then refines them into rich compositions that explore identity, emotion, and the human condition. His works, created in conte, charcoal, pastel, acrylic, and oil, are both meditative and charged with energy. Through them, he documents the poetry of existence—our connections, behaviors, and shared fragility within the natural and social ecosystem.

His creative path has also intertwined with service. A fellow of Art in Medicine, Philip contributed to therapeutic art installations for patients at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He is also part of The Seed of the True Vine Foundation, mentoring children in Makoko—a lagoon-side community in Lagos—through art and creativity.

For me, Philip’s works are to be savored like verses of a delicate poem—each line imbued with introspection, emotion, and quiet revelation. Speaking with him was a reminder that true artistry lies not in imitation, but in authenticity and the courage to translate one’s inner visions into light.

Thank you, Philip, for reminding us that the creative soul, when rooted in truth, becomes a mirror of humanity itself.

To purchase one or more of his transcending artworks, click here.

Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/philip_asare.k/

Location: Accra (Ghana)