"I'm not an artist. Art is me."
When the creator and the creation merges into one wholeness
If you don't know him by now, his name is Anthony Jefferson Hanson and he is a hyper realistic, oil on canvas painter and tattoo artist. Born and bred in Ghana, he took a peculiar liking to art during his adolescence and didn't refrain from exhibiting it. At any opportunity, Anthony would use the resources available to draw and or paint; even his mother's makeup items.
His Story
ASHENSO, by his real name, Anthony Jefferson Hanson, was born in Sekondi Takoradi, the capital of Western region of Ghana, to Mr. Emmanuel Kunoon Hanson and Madam Theresa Olivia Dorman and two siblings; Bernard Hanson and Ida Joan Hanson. He was named after his grandfather, the late Emmanuel Ewusi Essel thus Papa Ewusi. His grandfather was one of the greatest artist in Ghana and a pioneer of Kwame Nkruma University of Art before science was introduced, so I guess that's where he inherited the gift of Art.
He started his elementary school education at West Ridge school in Sekondi and moved to Cape coast at Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School where he was reunited with his grandfather, the ceramic tutor in his school and a discipline committee chair member. Only three years with him equipped his to be coming even much greater an artist.
Had to continue his tertiary education at Takoradi Polytechnic studying communication design from 2008 to 2011 as an HND graduate.
Give him a brush, a canvas, a plain wall and a concept will be born, with or without vou telling him vour options. It's what he does and he is one of the best at it in the country.
He admits his skills were limited academically and this created the wrong impression in the minds of his teachers, but one thing was obovious: he knew what his name is wanted by the Gods and he was going to fight for it.
His grandfather who was one of the pioneers of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Emmanuel Ewusi Essel was his motivation, and soon, he was doing 'magic with his brush.
Word spread fast and the world began to appreciate him for his great gift of art. He has worked on and with many celebrities and personalities globally and is making Ghana proud.