Born on Tuesday March 27, 1956, Joyce Quarshie’s life was rooted in Ghanaian Art, history and politics, growing up in a family of influential figures. Her father, John Kwame Agbevanu Quashie, served as a special advisor to President Kwame Nkrumah and played a key role in the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He also held ambassadorial posts in Ivory Coast, Congo, and Egypt, while chairing the Agricultural Development Corporation. Her mother, Sabina Patricks, was connected to some of Ghana’s most prominent political figures, including Joyce’s grand aunt, Hannah Kudjoe, and grand uncle, E.K. Dadson. This environment imbued Joyce with a deep sense of nationalism and cultural pride, which would shape her lifelong dedication to preserving Ghanaian Art.
Joyce received her early education at Accra Girls’ School in 1968, before moving to Versailles, France for high school and completing her studies in Connecticut, USA. Upon her return to Ghana, she joined her mother in the fish trade and eventually expanded her interests into luxury goods and art. After her mother’s passing in 1979, when Joyce was just 23, she became especially close to her grand aunt, Hannah Kudjoe, a dressmaker and political activist. Known for leading the campaign to free Ghana’s Big Six from colonial imprisonment, Kudjoe further inspired Joyce’s passion for cultural preservation.
Joyce’s time in the United States exposed her to a wide array of artistic expressions, laying the foundation for her future as a prominent art collector. In 1982, following her introduction to three of Ghana’s most distinguished artists—A. O. Bartimeus, Fojig Acolatse, and Reggie Quao by one of her close friends Jennifer Cofie-Edu—Joyce began assembling an impressive collection of Ghanaian art. She later moved to Nigeria in 1984, where she spent a decade successfully promoting Ghanaian artists.
In 1996, Joyce Quarshie established the renowned Berj Gallery in Accra, naming it after the initials of herself and her three sons. A firm believer in the power of family and business, she saw this as a way to honor both in her legacy. Berj Gallery quickly became a cornerstone of Ghana’s art scene. Through exhibitions at the Ambassador Hotel and collaborations with artists like El Anatsui, Nii Amon Kotei, Ablade Glover, Dr. Oku Ampofo, Owusu Ankomah, Ato Delaquis, Victor Butler and Betty Acquah, Joyce cemented her status as one of Africa’s foremost art collectors and Gallerists. One of her most prized possessions was a 1968 Ablade Glover piece, gifted to her by Nii Amon Kotei, the creator of Ghana’s Coat of Arms, as a symbol of her commitment to preserving the nation’s cultural legacy.
Joyce’s influence extended beyond the art world. During the construction of Jubilee House (formerly known as Flagstaff House), the residence and office of the President of Ghana, she was commissioned to curate its art collection. This role underscored her expertise and her dedication to showcasing Ghanaian art at the highest levels of governance.
Her gallery, Berj, became a hub for cultural exchange and artistic preservation. In 2017, Joyce hosted an exhibition with Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary General, in honor of the Kofi Annan foundation, and in 2023, she welcomed the President of Ghana as the special guest for another major exhibition, which launched Creation Africa Ghana.
Joyce Quarshie’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to Ghanaian art and culture. She believed in keeping the best of Ghana’s creative heritage within the country, and her work as a collector, curator, and cultural champion reflected that. Her life’s mission was not just about art; it was a spiritual journey to safeguard Africa’s rich artistic history.
Joyce passed away on October 14, 2024. Her legacy lives on through the Joyce Quarshie Permanent Collection, Berj Gallery, and the Joyce Quarshie and Hannah Kudjoe and Foundation. These institutions stand as enduring tributes to the cultural stories she so passionately championed, ensuring her influence will resonate for generations to come. She is survived by her three children, Emmanuel Okeke, William Prempeh and Robert Prempeh.
