Ghana’s creative arts community has been thrown into mourning following the death of renowned visual artist and cultural advocate Sharon Dede Padi, popularly known as Padiki, who passed away at the age of 50.
Family members and close associates confirmed that the celebrated artist died on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, leaving behind a legacy built around the promotion of Ghanaian culture through her unique leaf-print artworks.
Padiki gained global recognition after becoming the first official Guinness World Records holder for the largest leaf-print painting in 2025, following the creation of an artwork measuring 54.33 square metres.
Her achievement placed Ghana’s creative talent on the international stage and highlighted the use of natural materials as a powerful medium for artistic expression.
Born on June 24, 1976, at New Tafo Akyem in the Eastern Region, Padiki developed a deep connection with nature from childhood, a relationship that later shaped her signature artistic style.
She began her education at the Cocoa Research Institute’s Ghana Primary School at Tafo before attending Krobo Girls Senior High School and Aburi Girls’ Senior High School.
She later pursued architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, before earning a Master’s degree in Construction and Project Management from London South Bank University.
At the time of her passing, Padiki was pursuing a PhD in Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of Ghana, reflecting her lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
Beyond her work as an artist, she built a career in construction and project management, serving at institutions including the State Housing Company Limited, Akuaba Estates and Waltech Company Limited.
She also contributed to Ghana’s cultural and digital development through various roles, including membership of the Curatorial Board of the Pan African Heritage World Museum and service on the Board of Ghana Digital Centres Limited from 2022.
In December 2022, she founded the Padiki Art Gallery in Accra, providing a platform to showcase her distinctive leaf-print artworks and promote Ghanaian creativity.
Her works were exhibited in several galleries and museums across Ghana, earning her admiration locally and internationally.
Padiki’s artistic excellence attracted several honours, including Africa’s Most Respected CEO in Art, awarded in Mauritius, and Most Outstanding Female in Art in Ghana.
Shortly before her death, she was appointed Art Ambassador for the 200th anniversary celebration of the Odwira Festival during the Awukudae celebrations at the palace of the Akuapemhene.
Her passing marks the loss of a creative icon whose work connected art, nature and Ghana’s cultural identity, while inspiring a new generation of artists.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.
