At the First Caribbean and Central American Biennial, held in Santo Domingo in 1992, 275 artists from 30 countries submitted 450 paintings. One of the very few who walked away with Gold, was 33 year old, Ras Ishi Butcher. Before 1992, he had studied art at the Barbados Community College's Division of Fine Art and exhibited in several shows in his native Barbados, United States, and Latin America; including Gallery Caribe in Philadelphia and California, the Havana Biennial and the Art Collection Foundation, Barbados. In 1994, he and his colleague, Ras Akyem I Ramsay, attended the Second Biennial in Santo Domingo, the Fourth Havana Biennial as well as exhibiting in 'Art Of The Diaspora: Barbados Emerges' at 479 Gallery, Soho, NYC. Ras Ishi's sensational one man show, 'Isolation', held April 1995 in Barbados, was described as: "Explorations in the possibilities of the self, that have opened up for him new possibilities of artistic expression." In 1997, Ras Ishi completed post-graduate studies in fine art at the prestigious University of Superior Studies (ISA), Havana, Cuba. His work has been published and discussed in such publications as “Barbadian Art: What Kind of Mirror Image?” by Allison Thompson et al, “Black Art and Culture in the 20th Century”, by Prof. Richard Powell, and is represented in numerous public and private collections across the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe. The artist’s statement is: “My art is about anguish of my soul searching for ease and contentment to usurp my humanity from the ravages of societal destruction and barbaric self annihilation.”
 

Click to go to Top of Page

Since his conversion to the Rastafari faith in 1978, Ras Bongo Congo I has augmented his early training as a stonemason with a new found consciousness, to become one of the leading sculptors in Barbados today. He is a multiple Gold Award winner in the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (N1FCA), and in 1991 was part of a 3 Dimensional Design workshop, coordinated by the OAS and the National Cultural Foundation. 1992 saw Ras Bongo join with painter Ras Jahaziel Tafari for the groundbreaking exhibition 'Let My People Go', at Queens Park Gallery, Bridgetown. Since then he has represented Barbados at CARIFESTA V in Trinidad and Tobago, and 'A Bridge To The Americas' exhibition, Alfred 1. Dupont Building, Miami. His other exhibitions include, 'Great Kings of Cricket', Grand Salle Gallery - Central Bank of Barbados, as well as contemporary shows at the Barbados National Bank, Sherbourne Centre, the University of the West Indies, and the Barbados Consulate, NYC. As Ras Bongo envisions it, "Art is the soul of the people. The expression which the artist projects should uplift and guide the people."

This multi-talented artist has excelled in several areas - textiles, ceramics, and the canvas - but his paintings have been earning him increasing notice. Since taking courses in drawing, painting, and ceramics in the early 1980's, Kamau Crawford has exhibited constantly at home and abroad. His work was part of an exhibition of Barbadian Art at Hurst Gallery in Boston during early November 1994, and at 479 Gallery, NYC, during December 1994. In February 1996, Kamau was part of a group exhibit at Ifetayo Cultural Center, Brooklyn, NY, and held an acclaimed solo exhibition at the Barbados Museum in August of the same year. Before this, Kamau had shown in Canada, United States, Cuba, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Santo Domingo, and of course, Barbados. In 1998 his paintings were part of the exhibit series "Black Contemporary Art", held at Satta Gallery, Brooklyn, NY. His work is in the collections of the Presidents of Venezuela, Guyana, and Barbados, as well as the Director of Marketing at Drexel University, Philadelphia.

Click to go to Top of Page

Joyce Daniel

Barbadian native Joyce Daniel is an artist who has traveled and exhibited widely. Educated in Barbados, Canada and USA in both art education and fine art, Daniel has explored the highest reaches of both her chosen professions. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Caribbean, Canada, England, France, and Germany and across the USA. She works in acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, handmade paper, textiles and printmaking. She has extensive experience in teaching visual arts. As an arts administrator, she developed the Division of Fine Arts at the Barbados Community College and served as the first director of the Barbados Design Centre. Notable collectors include the Governments of Barbados and Cuba as well as author Maya Angelou.

John Flavius arrived in Barbados from his native St. Lucia in 1964 to join his parents and has since proceeded to make an indelible mark on the art and culture of his adopted homeland. While working as a builder/weaver with a local furniture company, Flavius developed a keen interest in wire art and, what started out as a hobby, has now become a successful career for this multi-talented artist. His many awards include: the 1979 NATIONAL AWARD TO INDUSTRY; MOST ORIGINAL ENTRY at the 1981 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. COMPETITION; two GOLD AWARDS at the 1983 NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL OF CREATIVE ARTS; and in 1986, THE BARBADOS MUTUAL SOCIETY OF NEW ENGLAND AWARD FOR THE NATIONAL ART COLLECTION OF BARBADOS. Mr. Flavius' work is held in private collections in the Caribbean, North America, and Europe.

 

Click to go to Top of Page

"Art is a revolutionary medium which reflects the spirit of the people. A confrontation with the experiences of life, to the ready mind." These are the reflections of Ras Ilix Heartman, wood sculptor and farmer, whose creations have increasingly been taking him away from the warm shores of his homeland. Before exhibiting his sculpture at the "In The Spirit Festival" Martha's Vineyard, Mass., August 1994, Ras Ilix attended the Third Havana Biennial in Cuba as well as showing at numerous exhibitions in Barbados. His woodcarvings were exhibited at 479 Gallery, Soho, NYC, as part of a Barbadian Art Exhibition, December 1994, and were featured in "Rastafarian Visions" at the Barbados Consulate, NYC, October 1995. He also participated in several art shows throughout the NY Tri-State area during summer 1995. Ras Ilix's sculpture Melchizedek was awarded "Best In Show" at the 1997 Black History Month Exhibition held at Hintersteiner Gallery, Washington Heights, NY. During November 1999, his work was part of the exhibition, "Barbadian Art at the OAS", held at the Organization of the American States, Washington, DC. A largely self taught, intuitive artist, Ras Ilix would like the opportunity to further his studies in woodcarving on the African continent.

Clifford Hobbs was born in Barbados and emigrated to the U.S. during the 1960's. He studied under painter Hector Whistler and George Beverly Hale in Barbados. After settling in New York City, Mr. Hobbs attended the Art Students League of New York and studied under Emil Schultz, illustrator. He subsequently attended the National Academy of Fine Arts. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S., including Hunter and John Jay Colleges, New York City; Hudson Art Gallery, the Barbados Consulate-NY; Brooklyn Museum; and the National African American Museum. An innovator, with a unique style combining watercolor, acrylic and collage, Mr. Hobbs was acknowledged as a pioneer and major influence on Barbadian art in the 1999 publication, "Art In Barbados: What kind of mirror image?" Many of his works are in private and corporate collections in the Caribbean, and the United States, and his art has received over a dozen awards and prizes. Mr. Hobbs is a founding member of the Brooklyn Watercolor Society.

 

Click to go to Top of Page

An accomplished painter and photographer, Oluyemi Legall received his art education at the Barbados Community College and the Detroit Jazz Centre Artistic Exchange Programme, under the tutelage of Harold Neal and Dr. Andrew Manier. A veteran of numerous exhibitions in his native Barbados, Oluyemi has also shown his art in the U.S., Canada, and the Third Havana Biennial. In December 1995, his paintings were part of Barbados Contemporary Art Exhibit, 479 Gallery, Soho, NYC, and in February 1996 part of a group show held at Ifetayo Cultural Center, Brooklyn, NY. A holder of several awards and distinctions in National Art Exhibitions, Oluyemi's work is held in private collections in Sweden, the United States, as well as the Caribbean.

Click to go to Top of Page

Norma S. Lithgow

Carlton Murrell began his professional painting career at the ripe age of 18, inspired by the richness of Caribbean living and the world beyond. He traveled to many distant places in search of a universal sense of art, which led him to emigrate to the capital city of art, New York City. While in New York, Murrell was awarded a scholarship to pursue additional advance studies in art at the Art Students League; later to attend the Pan American School of Fine Arts and Pel's School of Commercial Art and Illustration. He has exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, National African American Museum, United Nations, and Howard University, as well as, numerous galleries throughout the U.S. Mr. Murrell is held in private collections in Barbados, South America and the U.S. and has to his credit, approximately 16 awards, prizes and citations. He is listed in Who's Who of American Art and the International Register of Profiles.

Click to go to Top of Page

Since 1983, after completing undergraduate studies at the Edna Manley School of Art, Jamaica. Ras Akyem I Ramsey has proceeded to explore his artistic idiom, while sharing his knowledge with other emerging Barbadian talent. He is a veteran of exhibitions throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, England, and the U.S., many with his colleague Ras Ishi Butcher. In 1986 his work won first prize at the Benson & Hedges World of Art. Ras Akyem I's work is represented in the Barbados National Collection, as well as major private and public collections in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and North America. His solo exhibition 'Art Animal', held July 1995 in Barbados, was highlighted by his tribute to the late Haitian-American artist Jean Michel Basquiat, 'Altar for J-M Basquiat', described by one critic as "a triumph of composition," In 1996 Ras Akyem's paintings won the Gold Medal at the Third Biennial of Caribbean and Latin American Painting, held in Santo Domingo, and were part of the collective submission by Barbadian artists which won the Country Gold Medal. During 1995-1997 Ras Akyem successfully completed postgraduate studies at the University of Superior Arts (ISA), Cuba's prestigious art academy. His work has been published and discussed in such publications as “Barbadian Art: What Kind of Mirror Image?” and “Caribbean Art”, by Veerle Poupeye. In 1998 he was awarded the Barbados Service Star in that year’s Barbados Independence Honors. The artist’s statement is: “Art is an act of magic; an intuitive response to primal/ancestral imperative, a passionate impulse to create or destroy.”

Lisa Smith-Fields continues to explore her enormous artistic abilities. A graduate of the Barbados Community College's Division of Fine Art, she has also successfully completed courses in ceramics and serigraphy with Indigenous Potteries, Karoche Limited, and Barbados National Cultural Foundation. Since then, Lisa has exhibited both her pottery and fine art at several important shows in Barbados including the Art Collection Foundation Exhibition, Findings Crop-Over 1994 exhibition, and the annual Young Contemporaries Exhibition, 1994 -1998. In December 1994, Lisa participated in her first international exhibition as part of a group show at 479 Gallery in Soho, New York City. Subsequently, her paintings were showcased in an exhibition of contemporary Barbadian art at the Barbados Embassy in London. Her most recent US exhibitions include: "Five Caribbean Artists", Satta Gallery, Brooklyn-NY, July 1997; "The Premiere Exhibition", Indigenous International Gallery, Mount Vernon-NY, August 1997; "Contemporary Black Art", Satta Gallery, Brooklyn-NY, December 1998; as well as “Contemporary Barbadian Art”, Barbados Consulate - NY, February 2003. Critics and art enthusiasts alike heap praise on this multi-faceted young artist, as her work continue to gain admirers in both the US and the UK.

Click to go to Top of Page

Barbadian born Alfred Weekes has been creating wire figurines since 1979. His work is sold throughout the Caribbean and North America. He first joined with wire artist John Flavius and Anderson Pilgrim in a business partnership before merging with Mr. Pilgrim to form WEEKES' WIRE CRAFT. He has exhibited alongside the most talented artists and artisans in the Caribbean and has been a perennial prizewinner in the Barbados' National Arts and Crafts Competition. Mr. Weekes was also a prize winner at the 1993 All Community Arts Group Show in Brooklyn, New York, and was judged BEST IN SHOW at the 1993 Manchester Art Association Show in Manchester, CT. In November 1993, he was part of a landmark exhibition with John Flavius held at the New York offices of the Barbados Tourism Authority. Since then he has exhibited at 479 Gallery, Soho, NYC, December 1994; and the Barbados Consulate, NYC, as part of "Traditions", September 1995. His sculptures are held in private collections throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and North America.

Click to go to Top of Page

An educator and professional artist, Arlette St. Hill is a veteran of numerous exhibitions in the Caribbean and the United States. She is a graduate of the Barbados Community College, Edna Manley (formerly The Jamaica) School of Art, and the Teacher's Technical Training Institute, Madras - India. Arlette's work has been showcased at the Havana Biennale, Wifredo Lam Center - Cuba; as well as the OAS Gallery, Washington, DC; Hurst Gallery, Boston - MA; Wake Visual Arts Center, NC; and Satta Gallery, Brooklyn - NYC. Besides her career as a working artist, and a creator of children's programs for Barbados' schools, Arlette finds time to operate her own private gallery. Her colorful oils, pastels, and handmade prints primarily focus on the spiritual and cultural lives of the African Diaspora.

Click to go to Top of Page