WINNER OF THE ELLIPSE PRIZE 2025
Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku
Born in 1994 in Cape Coast, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku is a multidisciplinary artist and civil engineer based in Ghana.
Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku
winner of the ellipse prize
dedicated to Ghana
Inspired by the fabrics his grandmother collected, he salvages second-hand clothing discarded on beaches, in landfills, or at the Kantamanto Market, the largest hub for second-hand textile resale in Ghana.
Through dyeing and assemblage techniques, he transforms used garments as silent witnesses of past lives questioning identity, overconsumption, and colonial heritage.
Discarded textiles carry the weight of our choices
At the intersection of history and sustainability, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku’s work initiates a reflection on industrialization and climate change.
His installations question the relationship between fashion, identity, and the environment, revealing how the excesses of global textile industry shape local realities.
