Ghanaian visual artist Nana Kwaku Boateng has been shortlisted for the 2026 British Art Prize with his hyper-realistic graphite drawing, Tailor Made, earning him a place among 75 artists selected for the prestigious international competition.
The British Art Prize, organised by Artists & Illustrators, brings together artists from different backgrounds and levels of experience, with the shortlisted works to be exhibited at the Oxo Gallery on London’s South Bank from October 21 to 25, 2026.
For Boateng, the selection is a reward for perseverance after his work was rejected from the competition last year.
“I submitted my drawings last year. I submitted the same one last year, but it was rejected,” he told the Daily Graphic on Tuesday, October 6.
However, rather than allowing the setback to discourage him, Boateng returned this year with renewed conviction.
“I didn’t let the rejection prevent me from submitting something new. I was so convinced that this is it. This particular one will fit this edition. So yes, I just sent it,” he said.
Tailor Made is a highly detailed portrait that explores the relationship between drawing and perception. According to Boateng, the work was created as an experiment into how the human brain processes visual information.
“It was a drawing to experiment with how the brain sees a drawing and then immediately thinks it is a photograph,” he explained.
Beyond its photographic realism, Boateng said he deliberately introduced a sense of movement into the otherwise still image, encouraging viewers to imagine the subject blinking, smiling or moving.
“Although it is still, I made it look like you can imagine yourself seeing the drawing move, whether it be the smile or you imagine her trying to open her eyes,” he said.
At its core, Tailor Made is a reflection on “the power of the mind”, inviting viewers to consider how perception can transform a static image into an experience that appears almost alive.
Boateng, who has worked professionally since 2017, is known for his hyper-realistic portraits in graphite and charcoal. His practice focuses on identity, vulnerability and lived experience, with details such as scars, pores and subtle tonal variations forming an important part of his portrayal of the human face.
A graduate of Takoradi Technical University, Boateng has steadily built an international profile. In 2024, he won the People’s Choice Award at the Derwent Art Prize in London.
His growing recognition in the United Kingdom was further highlighted in May 2025, when the British High Commissioner hosted an exhibition of his work at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Accra to mark World Art Day.
The overall British Art Prize winner will receive £2,000, a solo exhibition at Panter and Hall’s Cecil Court Gallery in London, art materials and a six-page magazine feature.
The winners will be announced at a private view on October 22, alongside artists, collectors and other invited guests.
