Deadly Prey Gallery Showcases Ghanaian Movie Posters
A Brooklyn exhibition displays vintage, hand-painted artwork that once promoted mobile cinema screenings in Ghana.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Fine Art
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Deadly Prey Gallery recently brought its collection of vibrant, hand-painted Ghanaian movie posters to a Brooklyn exhibition at the Selva gallery. The showcase highlights the unique artistic tradition used to attract crowds to traveling cinema screenings during the late 20th century.
Why it matters
These posters were originally created with exaggerated visuals specifically to drive ticket sales for mobile cinema operators in Ghana. The exhibition offers a look at a distinct period of cinematic history where art served as the primary marketing tool for local traveling theaters.
Deadly Prey Gallery has spent 15 years sourcing and preserving vintage Ghanaian movie posters since its founding in 2011. The gallery continues to commission new works from the original artists to maintain the hand-painted style.
The players
Deadly Prey Gallery
This organization specializes in the collection and sale of vintage Ghanaian hand-painted movie posters.
Brian Chankin
He is a co-founder of Deadly Prey Gallery and has been involved in the curation of vintage Ghanaian cinematic art for 15 years.
Robert Kofi
He is a co-founder of Deadly Prey Gallery who helps lead the organization in preserving West African cinema history.
The details
During the 1980s and 1990s, traveling cinemas in Ghana utilized flatbed trucks equipped with VCRs and televisions to bring movies to local communities. Artists produced bold, stylized posters to entice potential viewers to these screenings, creating a legacy of art that now appeals to international cinephiles.
Timeline
The hand-painted poster tradition thrived during the 1980s and 1990s.
Deadly Prey Gallery was established in 2011.
The Brooklyn exhibition took place in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The gallery's work highlights the intersection of local cultural history and the global appreciation of folk art in the film industry. By commissioning new posters, the organization bridges the gap between past marketing tactics and current collector demand.
Collectors and art enthusiasts can purchase vintage pieces directly through the gallery's ongoing operations. The exhibition provided a rare opportunity for local residents to view the physical posters in person rather than through digital catalogs.
The takeaway
These unique posters offer a fascinating glimpse into how visual storytelling was adapted for mobile cinema in Ghana. Readers interested in folk art can look for similar local galleries that curate and preserve historical advertising materials from various international cultures.
Further reading
Learn more about local visual culture by exploring the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
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