He was born in Vogan, Togo (West Africa), in 1946, and moved to Lagos, Nigeria, at the age of eight, where he received his education and art training, receiving a scholarship to the Yaba Trade Center where he studied fine art from 1966 to 1968.
Amedokpo paints using locally available oils and his canvases are recycled flour sacks, washed and stretched. His studio forms part of his family compound. A tin roof shelters him from the African sun and seasonal rains.
In November 2008, Amedokpo was selected as one of four artists for Dell"s Product RED initiative as part of the global fight against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Other artists selected include Siobhan Gunning, Bruce Mau and Mike Ming.
Noawadays Joseph Amedokpo hasn"t money to by medicine, or to eat correctly or support his family, the agent who sold his creation give them every 6 months around 50 euros. In the beginning the don"t give him the possibility to read his contract.
Joseph Amedokpo haven"t bicycle or car, or electricity in his house.
