Rita Mawuena Benissan is a Ghanaian American interdisciplinary artist who reimagines the royal umbrella, a well-known protective object that she has transformed into a symbol of Ghanaian identity. She holds a BFA in Apparel and Textile Design from Michigan State University (2017) and an MFA in Photography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021).
The artist collaborates with traditional artisans to create and immortalise archival photos of individual figures and communal scenes. With a profound passion for art and cultural history, Benissan set out to redefine Ghana’s artistic and historical narratives. In 2020, she established Si Hene, an organisation dedicated to preserving the country’s chieftaincy and traditional culture. She also served as Artistic Director for the Open Society Foundation’s Restitution Conference in Accra.