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Designer Ebenezer Akakpo’s creations speak to both his native Ghana and his adopted Maine. In a massive brick mill building seven miles west of Portland, Maine, in the town of Westbrook, I stumble into a world of symbols, the domain of a man who dreams and designs in ancient patterns. Ebenezer Akakpo’s jewelry—wide cuffs, slender bangles, dangling earrings—is adorned with tiny characters called adinkra, strong graphic symbols that appear on fabric, pottery, and artwork throughout his native Ghana. They embody some of the most powerful ideas in any language: hope, unity, bravery, and friendship, among others.  These traditional Ghanaian characters...

Ebenezer Akakpo is an artist originally from Ghana but based in the United States. His passion for jewelry-making led him to Le Arti Orafe in Florence, Italy, where he studied stone-setting and jewelry design. In Italy, he discovered computer-aided design and manufacturing and loved the fact that it could be a gamechanger in the jewelry-making industry. When he moved to the U.S., Akakpo studied Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, Maine, and later studied Industrial design at Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, NY. He established Akakpo Design Group LLC in Maine in 2017...

Artist Ebenezer Akakpo sits in the bus shelter he designed on Congress Street in Portland on June 17, 2021. Akakpo, who was born in Ghana, drew inspiration from traditional Ghanaian symbols for hope and friendship. Waiting for a bus in Portland is getting a bit more vibrant with five more bus shelters getting new artistic designs.The initiative gives selected artists the opportunity to showcase their skills and promote the Portland Public Transit resources.Creative Portland is overseeing the project as the official arts agency for the city.The project first started in 2017 and is now in its second phase.The installation next month...

Ashanah here! I personally always have Africa on the brain. My junior year of college I did an abroad experience in Tanzania. A key thing I learned was how important local culture varies across the continent, and how important these traditions mean to the community. I one day hope to see as much of Africa as possible. Which is why when I discovered that our new craft artist is originally from Ghana  I needed to learn more. As always I encourage you to come wonder around the gallery. You’ll be sure to notice we have a neat series of cups...