Joseph Tetteh-Ashong Enter a
feeling, not
a gallery.
Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
Joseph Tetteh-Ashong
A Legacy Carved in Wood: The Life and Art of Joseph Tetteh-Ashong (Paa Joe) Joseph Tetteh-Ashong, known globally as Paa Joe, is more than just a sculptor; he’s a cultural historian translating the narratives of Ghana into breathtakingly imaginative forms. Born in Nungua, Ghana, in 1947, Paa Joe emerged from a lineage steeped in tradition, yet possessed an innate drive to push the boundaries of what Ghanaian coffin art could be. His jou
rney began with a rigorous twelve-year apprenticeship under Kane Kwei at his workshop in Teshie – a foundational experience that instilled not only technical mastery but also a deep understanding of the symbolic weight embedded within each creation. These weren’t merely boxes for burial; they were *abebuu adekai*, “proverb boxes,” vessels designed to reflect the deceased's life, profession, and aspirations, ensuring a fitting passage i…