About

Amoako Buachie is an autistic artist with a profound gift and love for painting. Amoako was born in Brooklyn, New York February 27, 1991. He was raised by his mother, Akosua Mainu, who migrated to the U.S from Ghana in 1986. Amoako’s passion for art started at age two. When his mother noticed him drawing and doodling on paper, she bought him his first sketch pad at age five—a Magna Doodle. As a child, Amoako would use his pad to draw characters from his favorite Warner Bros. cartoons. Between ages ten and thirteen, Amoako was able to draw exact portraits of not only cartoon characters, but various objects and landscapes. By age eighteen, Amoako developed an interest in painting and began to refine his craft by studying the legendary artist, Leonardo da Vinci. It was at Jim Thorpe high school that his art teacher, Ms. Audrey Lacy, noticed that he had a special gift and helped him develop his skills as a painter. During this time, Amoako harnessed his craft and usage of acrylics and water color paint. It was in her class that he painted his first portrait of his friend Andre.

His painting, “My Friend Andre” won the NYC Department of Education P.S. Art Competition in 2010. He then won the competition again in 2011 for his painting the “Day Dreamer Boy.” Later that year, Amoako was presented with a Certificate of Achievement on behalf of the Pure Vision Arts Program. These accomplishments gained him the attention of artists and art enthusiasts throughout New York City. Through the media advocacy of Ms. Janet Lovell of the Women Helping Women Ministry, Amoako was able to receive news coverage from ABC 7 Eye Witness News, the New York Daily News, Caribbean Life Newspaper, and News 12 Brooklyn. In a short time, Amoako’s accomplishments snowballed into bigger and better notoriety. After winning both competitions, Amoako’s paintings “My Friend Andre” and “Day Dreamer Boy” were then featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In June 2011, his work gained the attention of the Rush Arts Gallery who assisted in getting his painting “Where the Wild Things Are” displayed at Lincoln Center. After graduating high school, Amoako furthered his education at the Academy of Art where he studied for one year.

In 2013, his online publicity earned him the attention of the McCarton Foundation. With their help, Amoako recently had several of his paintings displayed at the Port Authority of NewYork. He was also honored with the 2013 Genius of Autism Award from the McCarton Foundation.

Presently, Amoako continues to paint and use his art as a calming, meditative practice—drawing inspiration from his environment, as well as, his thoughts and feelings on life. In his spare time, he also enjoys singing and playing the piano.