Shiri Achu
-
-
→Annual InPrint series of Exhibitions as noted in my bio.
→Other exhibitions noted on my website and social media pages.
-
→ ‘The best Artist in Brent’ by the Brent Council. London
→ TOP 10 Artist at “Artomatic” 2016, Washington DC
→ Citation presented by Member of Congress, Chris Van Hollen, to Shiri Achu Art in recognition of… ‘presenting the inaugural 36InPrintDC art exhibition, and with appreciation for using art to capture the spirit of Africa culture in our community.’ 14th May 2016
→ Distinguished Fellowship of African Art and Culture, FAAC
→ Advisor on The Artomatic Board 2019 / 2020 https://www.artomatic.org/
→ Board of Directors – Artomatic 2020 - present
→ Inclusion as a Marquis Who’s Who biographical listee.
→ Ayoo Africa Top Ten 2020 – Art 2020
→ Cultural Award from The Prince George’s African Diaspora Advisory Board – April 2022
→ Faces of the Peace Art Prize – October 2022
→ Ambassador of the restructuring of the arts – Cameroon – November 2022
→ Collectors Art Prize April CAC 2023
→ International PEGASUS Art Prize 2023
→ Michelangelo The Genius of Italy July 2023
→ Star of Art and Market July 2023
→ Career Art Award 2023
→ Harmony for Humanity: The Global Consciousness Art Prize August 2023
→ Leaders Protagonists of Art at Washington November 2023
→ African Awards of Washington: Innovative Leadership and Solution Using Plastic Art – AWA Awards
→ Top 10 Creative Artists 2024 – Read article here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/tripideas/top-10-most-creative-artists-of-2024/ar-BB1k6fuq
→ Global Art Virtuoso Award by Contemporary Art Collectors, Elite Artistic Career Achievement Award January 2024
→ International Prize Botticelli January 2024 – Foundazione Effetto Arte
→ The Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award by Contemporary Art Curator Magazine – July 2024
→ International Prize Velazquez & Goya September 2024 – Foundazione Effetto Arte
→ International Prize ARTIST of the Year 2025 – January 2025 – F E A
→ New Great Masters of New York Award – April 2025
→ UCYE 21st Century Contemporary Artist Award – April 2025
→ Appointed UCYE African Cultural Ambassador to the United States – April 2025
→ Awarded the Leonardo da Vinci International Prize – June 2025
-
Shiri Achu was born in Cameroon, West Africa. She and her family immigrated to London, where she lived for many years. Today, she has studios in Cameroon, the UK and the USA, where she is currently based. After obtaining an A* and A at GCSE and “A” level Art, she went on to study Architecture at Cardiff University. Since qualifying as an Architect, Shiri longed for her paintbrush and has actively pursued her passion of painting and has since taken this to a professional level. Her preferred mediums are acrylics, but she works with oils and with mixed media. Shiri Achu’s art comes from every day, unsurprising, yet unexpectedly vivid, moments, times, and places. She is reputed to capture the spirit of her subjects and make them come alive through form, color, texture, and tone.
One of the aims of Shiri Achu’s Art is to showcase the culture of Cameroon and other African countries worldwide. It’s also to bring back fond memories to those in the Diaspora. Shiri finds beauty in the woman carrying her child on her back and going on her way. She finds beauty in the old lady who makes her “achu” in her dark outdoor kitchen for her grandchildren. She finds beauty in the African fabrics. She finds beauty, envy even, in the young girl climbing the tree.
Shiri’s paintings reflect the beautiful simplicity of Africa and she offers this to the western world to encourage understanding of the culture and interest in travel to African nations. Shiri loves also to paint carnivals scenes. Showcasing the colours, the movement, the moment. She aims also to bring joy to homes!
Five years after The 30th Act, Shiri’s first solo exhibition, 35InPrint:London exhibition took place from April 19, 2014 and during the one week long exhibition, the mayor of Harrow attended along with the late Mr. Barry Lord (Shiri’s mentor and museum designer of the new Smithsonian African American museum).
36InPrint:DC exhibition kicked off with Shiri attending a discussion group on “Champions of change for expanding fair chance opportunities” at the White House and ended with a recognition letter from Congressman Chris Van Hollen, “…in presenting the inaugural 36InPrint Art exhibition and with appreciation for using art to capture the spirit of African culture in our community.”
37InPrint:Australia exhibition took place in Adelaide from 14th – 23rd July 2016. 38InPrint: Jamaica exhibition took place at The University of The West Indies, Regional Headquarters from 25th August – 8th September 2017. 39InPrint: Toronto exhibition took place at Ariilon in Toronto from 1st – 4th December 2018.
Shiri has been privileged to exhibit and talk about her paintings at The Commonwealth Secretariat in London, The Houses of Parliament, The African Village at London Olympics 2012, and also the BBC TV show “Show me the Monet” after her painting “Rose” was shortlisted for the show in 2012.
Shiri Achu’s Art is gripping and engaging across the globe. Her works have been and are continually sought after all over the world. Her works have been featured in several magazines, newspapers, blogs, and the book, International Contemporary Masters VII, published by World Wide Art books Inc, pages 64-65. Also, The Smithsonian (The shop at the National Museum of African Art) orders, and sells out of, Shiri Achu Art limited edition prints.
Prominent public figures like Africa’s Cameroonian football legend Roger Milla, Grammy award-winning American singers Brandy and Faith Evans, British actor James Faulkner, British soul singer (MBE) Omar, Cameroon makossa legendary musicians: Papa Salle John, Sam Fan Thomas and Prince Ndedi Eyango; Ghanaian politician, daughter of Kwame Nkrumah, Samia Nkrumah; Jamaican living legend Mutabaruka; singers: Angelique Kidjo, and Soul Queen Angie Stone all own Shiri Achu Art.
Shiri Achu Art is also owned by over 700 collectors who buy from her website, at art fairs, group and solo exhibitions and also from those who buy from the store at The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and elsewhere…
Ten years after her first solo exhibition at St Augustine’s Tower in London in 2009, Shiri Achu was excited to celebrate her 10th anniversary last year in 2019 with ‘The 40th Act’ exhibitions taking place first at the very same venue where she had her first exhibition in London, St Augustine’s Tower, from 8th – 11th August 2019 , then at The Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC from 8th - 10th November 2019. Shiri finally ended the year by exhibiting The 40th Act, Part 2 DC at The University of the District of Columbia from 3rd-7th December 2019. The 40th Act, Part 3 was a Synced Exhibition with 42InPrint:Douala
Thereafter, 41InPrint took place as a virtual exhibition during Covid 19 in April 2020, 42InPrint: Douala took place in Dec 2021 at Gallery MAM in Douala and 43InPrint: Yaoundé took place at The National Museum of Yaoundé, November 2022. Earlier in the year of 2024, 44InPrint:DOHA took place on the ‘Signature’ Yacht and Maha Avent Garde Gallery from 18th – 21st of April. Following that, The 10th In Print Art Exhibition Anniversary 45InPrint:DMV took place at The Ven Art Gallery, The Ven at Embassy Row, Washington DC. This Exhibition was open to the public from July 12th 2024 – September 8th.
When Shiri receives messages such as this, “I can recognise your art as beautiful because it makes my heart want to smile” Samir Malik, she is encouraged to keep working hard and motivated to keep making hearts smile. She is grateful and thankful for every encouragement and opportunity that enables her to keep painting. She is grateful for the opportunity to mentor young people in London, Cameroon, and the USA.
Shiri is extremely pleased and excited that she is achieving one of her goals of promoting the African Culture worldwide, through her art works, workshops and her annual worldwide InPrint Exhibitions. From Exhibitions; The 30th Act in 2009, then 35inPrint:London in 2014, 36InPrint:DC, 37inPrint:AUS, 38InPrint:Jamaica, 39InPrint:Toronto leading to The 40th Act as described above. Following this, 41InPrint:Worldwide was online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 42InPrint:Douala, 43InPrint Yaoundé at The National Museum of Yaoundé in 2022, 44InPrint:DOHA and 45InPrint:DMV, The 10th In Print Art Exhibition Anniversary. 46InPrin:Accra took place from 11-12 December.
Shiri Achu was born in Cameroon. She and her family immigrated to London, where she lived for many years. Today, after qualifying as an Architect and pursuing her art, she has studios in Cameroon, the UK and the USA, where she is currently based. One of the aims of Shiri Achu’s Art is to showcase the culture of Cameroon and other African countries worldwide.
It’s also to bring back fond memories to those in the Diaspora. Shiri’s paintings reflect the beautiful simplicity of Africa and she offers this to the western world to encourage understanding of the culture and interest in travel to African nations. Shiri
is extremely pleased and excited that she is achieving one of her goals of promoting the African Culture Worldwide, through her art works, workshops and her annual worldwide InPrint Exhibitions. From 35InPrint:London 2014, then 36InPrint:DC, 37InPrint:Australia, 38InPrint:Jamaica, 39InPrint:Toronto through 41, 42 and then to 43InPrint:Yaoundé at The National Museum of Yaoundé and 44InPrint:Doha, the 10th Anniversary Exhibition 45InPrint:DMV and most recently 46InPrint:Accra.
Shiri Achu’s goal is to spread imagery of the many beautiful cultures, promoting African Lifestyle and Culture one city at a time. Shiri is honored and grateful for the recognition and awards along the way.
