Title

Ako, Jakupa.

Author

Australian Prints.

Source

[Not applicable]

Publication date

2010

Type

Biography

Language

English

Country of context

Papua New Guinea

Full text

Jakupa Ako

Jakupa Ako was one of Papua New Guinea’s most successful artists. He was born at Meganagu village in the Bena Bena valley of the Eastern Highlands c.1942. As a cleaner at Goroka Teachers College he began to draw, and with encouragement from staff, began attending classes. Ako returned to his village in 1972, but was soon in demand for major commissions. These led to a scholarship at the Creative Arts Centre at Port Moresby in 1974. As well as paintings and drawings, Jakupa produced appliqued works and some remarkable prints. He exhibited internationally throughout his career and received an MBE for his service to art in 1981. He died in 1999.

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