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Updated 11/12/2023

Kwadwo Adae

  • C

    CT

Institution/Business Type: Art Studio

After receiving my Master's of Arts in Painting from New York University in 2005, I founded an alternative art school in the historic Ninth Square district of Downtown New Haven called the Adae Fine Art Academy.  At our brick and mortar location we provide individualized instruction in drawing and painting to children, adolescents, adults in the Greater New Haven area.  We also operate a Mobile Art Studio that provides off site art lessons to elderly artists in the Alzheimer's and dementia wing of assisted living centers; artists residing in transitional living facilities for people with schizophrenia; young adults in mental health clinics; and children in after school programs. In addition to maintaining a rigorous studio practice, we curate annual exhibitions which showcase the artwork of our students.  When we are not teaching we contribute to the discourse of public art in our community by creating murals.  We design murals and collaborate with our students, local non-profit organizations, and residents in the community to install them.  In the past six years I have designed and orchestrated the installation of sixteen murals.  Thirteen in private businesses, public spaces, and green spaces in the Greater New Haven area.  The other three were self funded by creating watercolor stop motion animation projects as our crowdfunding campaign videos on Kickstarter to raise a total of approximately $30,000 to cover travel, material, and installation costs for three international mural projects.  We installed one mural at the APV School in the Garwhal Himalayas of northern India, another at La Escuela Chu-ul in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, and one at Fundacion Arte Del Mundo a children's literacy center in Baños De Agua Santa, Tungurahua, Ecuador. We love bringing people in diverse communities together to collaborate and experience firsthand the transformative power of art in public spaces.

Find Me

Kwadwo Adae
Job Title: Muralist
Phone: 203.777.7220
Address:
840 State Street
1st Floor
New Haven, CT 06511

Social Media:

Additional Content:

  • Murals

    Individual and Collaborative Public Art Initiatives

  • Instagram

  • YouTube Channel

    See the watercolor stop-motion animation films that were created as Kickstarter videos to crowdfund international mural projects in India, Guatemala, and Ecuador.

  • StoryCorps Interview-Archived in the Library of Congress and at the Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture

    Hear the StoryCorps Interview conducted by Sarah Fritchey of Artspace New Haven conducted at the New Haven Free Public Library. We discuss my public art practice rooted in healing and connection and public art initiatives as a tool for social justice.

  • Volcán Tungurahua Mural Project Documentary

    In 2018 I orchestrated a collaborative mural project with Fundación Arte Del Mundo, a children's literacy center in Baños De Agua Santa, Ecuador. I assembled a team of 6 people to create the mural Bendiciones De Pachamama, vignette by Travis Carbonella:

  • The Women's Empowerment Mural Project Unveiling

    Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters of the Firelight was unveiled on October 10, 2018. An 18 x 106 ft collaborative mural project I orchestrated with over 140 volunteers from the community. Here is a news clip from the Unveiling Ceremony.

  • Lake Atitlán Mural Project Documentary

    In 2016 I orchestrated a collaborative mural project with children from Escuela Chu'ul in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala to create a mural featuring Huipiles, the vibrant embroidery pattern worn by the indigenous Mayan culture.

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Art Studio

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2005

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Art Studio

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Corporation

Year Founded:

2005

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Visual/Crafts - Painting

Additional Disciplines:

  • Visual/Crafts - Paper

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Design Services
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Funding
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Curriculum Development
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Consulting - Curatorial Services
  • Portfolio Review
  • Community Arts
  • Exhibitions
  • Art Sales

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Houseless/Housing Insecure Individuals
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Incarcerated (or Formerly Incarcerated) individuals
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Native American Tribes
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Veteran/Active Duty Military Personnel
  • Youth-At-Risk

Languages Available:

  • Spanish

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • International

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

YALE UNIVERSITY - PEABODY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Museum - Other

Date: 01/2019-01/2019

Jesse Delia is the Community Programs & Outreach Manager of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

Arts Council of Greater New Haven

Arts Council / Agency

Date: 02/2017-02/2017

Daniel Fitzmaurice is the director of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and was formerly the director of Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven.

NEW HAVEN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Library

Date: 06/2015-06/2015

Ashley Sklar is the Public Services Administrator for Adult Learning, Partnerships, and Communications for the New Haven Free Public Library.

ARTSPACE MAYNARD, INCORPORATED

Arts Service Organization

Date: 10/2006-10/2006

Sarah Fritchey is the Curator and Gallery Director of Artspace New Haven, she is a friend, colleague, and co-conspirator.

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • 2021 Racial Equity + Creative Healing Grant-Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
  • 2019 Connecticut Office of the Arts FY19 Artist Fellowship
  • 2018 Connecticut Office of the Arts FY18 Project Grant
  • 2018 REI Stewardship Grant
  • 2018 William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund Responsive Grant
  • 2016 Arts Award-Arts Council of Greater New Haven
  • 2016 Connecticut Magazine-40 Under 40 Class of 2016
  • 2016 CT Now-Best of New Haven- Adae Fine Art Academy-1st Place Winner of Best Local Arts Organization
  • 2012 Artist Resource Trust-Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Grant
  • 2011 Vermont Studio Center Civil Society Institute Fellowship

Awards

Awards:

  • 2021 Racial Equity + Creative Healing Grant-Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
  • 2019 Connecticut Office of the Arts FY19 Artist Fellowship
  • 2018 Connecticut Office of the Arts FY18 Project Grant
  • 2018 REI Stewardship Grant
  • 2018 William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund Responsive Grant
  • 2016 Arts Award-Arts Council of Greater New Haven
  • 2016 Connecticut Magazine-40 Under 40 Class of 2016
  • 2016 CT Now-Best of New Haven- Adae Fine Art Academy-1st Place Winner of Best Local Arts Organization
  • 2012 Artist Resource Trust-Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Grant
  • 2011 Vermont Studio Center Civil Society Institute Fellowship

Education

Education:

  • 2005 New York University Master's of Arts in Painting

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Design
  • Visual/Crafts

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Design
  • Visual/Crafts