In a development rocking the art world, prominent Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko accused celebrated Nigerian-American artist Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault. Awuah-Darko, who goes by the alias Okuntakinte online, described the alleged assaults in a detailed May 19th Instagram post. The encounters reportedly occurred in June 2021 during a dinner held in Wiley’s honor at the Noldor Artist Residency, a program Awuah-Darko himself founded.

Wiley vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “false” and “an affront to all victims of sexual abuse” in his own Instagram response. He claimed to have had a brief, consensual relationship with Awuah-Darko but did not elaborate further.

Awuah-Darko’s post alleges Wiley groped him twice during the dinner. The first incident reportedly happened while he was escorting Wiley and another guest to the bathroom. Awuah-Darko claims Wiley groped his buttocks and made an inappropriate comment. He further alleges a second assault occurred later that evening, though details remain unavailable.

The accusation has sent shockwaves through the art community. Wiley is a highly respected contemporary artist known for his vibrant, large-scale portraits featuring Black subjects reimagined in the style of Old Master paintings. His work challenges traditional narratives by celebrating Black identity and culture. Some of his most notable works include “Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps” (2005), featuring a young Black man in modern clothing, and the 2018 portrait of President Barack Obama for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

Awuah-Darko’s allegations have sparked widespread discussion and calls for a thorough investigation to determine the truth behind these serious claims.