Joy Gyamfi is a Black, queer, writer and photographer from Ghana.

—

A multipotentialite with a wide range of skills, she enjoys working across multiple mediums to create a blend of visual and textual art. Be it collage, graphic design, or some other third thing, Joy’s endless love and care for community is a recurring theme in her work.

Joy currently resides on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples — colonially known as Vancouver. Her work has appeared in The Capilano Review, SAD Mag, and The Garden Statuary.

Support Joy’s artistic process by sending $ to her Paypal.

Photo by Simone Chnarakis

In the media:

  • A photo of Joy sitting on a bench holding a book that covers half of her face.

    CBC News

    “I was born in Ghana but primarily grew up and was raised here in Surrey and Vancouver. So much of my understanding of race is from a Western perspective which is different from that of my mother who was born and raised in Ghana. I personally identify as an intersectional feminist…” (2020)

  • SAD Mag

    “At 24 years old, Ghana-born Joy Gyamfi describes herself as a ‘Jack of all trades, mediocre at some.’” (2020)

  • A photo of Joy standing next to her photographs.

    The Ubyssey

    “Certain artists, including Joy Gyamfi who provided the cover photo for the event, focused on diverse bodies in their choice of subjects.” (2018)

  • A photo of joy standing outside wearing a flower crown.

    CTV News

    “Black people and queer people of colour can be without having that fear of police being involved in that parade," said Joy Gyamfi, one of the rally's organizers.” (2017)

  • A photo of Joy standing in front of a microphone with her arms raised.

    Langara Voice

    “Her contributions to Black Lives Matter Vancouver and her work at Gordon Neighbourhood House (GNH) prompted Gyamfi’s boss Paul Taylor, to nominate her for the Black History Month proclamation.” (2017)

  • A photo of Joy from the bust up with her arms crossed with a wide smile.

    Xtra Magazine

    “Having lived in Metro Vancouver her whole life, Gyamfi says she never felt part of a black community, until now. Aside from when she’s with her friends, Gyamfi says the Black Lives Matter collective is the only space where she feels embraced for exactly who she is.” (2016)