Baker Artist Portfolios

Trustina Fafa Sabah is a Ghanaian-born gourd artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. She began working with gourds in 2016 and has since developed a distinctive practice that blends cultural storytelling, functional sculpture, and intricate hand-carving. Through her studio, Gourds By Fafa, she creates sculptural vessels, bowls and light pieces inspired by Ghanaian traditions, organic forms, and the calming environments people long to create in their homes.

Sabah’s work has been exhibited and sold at notable venues including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, The REACH at the Kennedy Center, and The Barn at Wellspring in Maryland. Her work has also been recognized nationally, earning First Place and Best in Division at the North Carolina Gourd Society’s 80th Anniversary Gourd Show.

In addition to her studio practice, Sabah is a dedicated educator and community arts advocate. She has served as an artist-in-residence with the Baltimore County Public Library, where she continues to lead gourd art workshops for adults and youth from time to time. She is also a returning instructor at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and regularly facilitates workshops throughout Maryland, expanding access to gourd art and craft traditions for diverse audiences.

Deeply rooted in her Ghanaian heritage and shaped by her life in Maryland, Sabah’s work reflects a commitment to cultural exchange, craftsmanship, and community connection. Whether exhibited in public institutions or shared through hands-on learning, her art invites calmness, peace,  color and appreciation for the beauty of handmade objects.