Ghana's creative arts industry has lost one of its brightest talents following the death of celebrated visual artist and poet, Sharon Dede Padi, popularly known as Padiki.
The Guinness World Records holder reportedly passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, July 7, at the age of 50.
Although the cause of her death is yet to be made public, news of her passing has sent shockwaves through the creative community, with many paying tribute to an artist whose work projected Ghana's rich culture onto the global stage.
Padiki etched her name in history in 2025 when she became the first official Guinness World Records holder for the Largest Leaf Print Painting. The record-breaking masterpiece, measuring 54.33 square metres, was created in Accra using impressions from natural leaves and celebrated Ghana's environment, culture and artistic heritage.
The remarkable feat earned her international recognition and cemented her place among Ghana's finest contemporary artists.
Born in 1976, Padiki studied Architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) before obtaining a Master's degree in Construction and Project Management from London South Bank University. However, despite her academic background in architecture, art remained her true calling.
Through the establishment of the Padiki Art Gallery, she not only exhibited her works but also created opportunities for young and emerging artists to develop their talents. Her paintings and poetry reflected themes of identity, culture and everyday Ghanaian life, earning admiration both at home and abroad.
Padiki was equally passionate about the development of Ghana's creative sector. She consistently advocated greater investment in the arts, calling for financial support for young artists and easier access to quality art materials.
Her dedication to the industry saw her appointed to the board of Ghana Digital Centres Limited in 2022, where she contributed to initiatives that promoted innovation and strengthened the country's creative economy.
In what turned out to be one of her final public assignments, Padiki was named Visual Arts Ambassador for the 200th anniversary celebration of the Odwira Festival. At the launch of the celebrations, she unveiled a live painting of the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, reaffirming her unwavering commitment to using art to preserve and promote Ghanaian culture.
Her determination was equally evident in 2024 when she embarked on a 168-hour painting marathon in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. Although that effort was unsuccessful, she bounced back the following year with her historic leaf print painting, achieving the global recognition she had long pursued.
Padiki is survived by three children—a son and two daughters.
