CaFA Fair Barbados 2024 - PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

March 6 - 10, 2024 at Bagnall’s Point Gallery, Pelican Village Craft Center, Bridgetown, Barbados

ART FROM THE CARIBBEAN 

28,15,0,50,1

25,600,60,1,100,1000,25,2000

90,300,1,50,12,25,50,1,70,12,1,50,1,1,1,5000

0,1,0,1,1,30,10,5,0,0,0,10,0,1

AKWABA

MAHOGANY SCULPTURE

ADEMOLA

A FACE IN A DREAM

T & T GLORY

TULIP SYMPHONY

UNTITLED

DAWN TO DUSK

SOULS IN MOTION

ANNA

SAXOMUSIC

TERRESTRIAL

ART FROM THE WIDER DIASPORA

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS 

Ademola Olugebefola – US Virgin Islands 

Dr. Ademola Olugebefola began his professional career as a bassist, playing with several small ensembles throughout the New York metropolitan area during the late 50s and early 60s. In the late 60’s he turned his creative energies to the visual arts and frequently incorporates musical ideas and theories in his extensive body of work. Over the past four decades, Olugebefola’s works have been included in hundreds of exhibitions at major American museums, universities and cultural institutions internationally. Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he has lectured and participated in forums at universities, museums and cultural institutions in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. He is a highly respected cultural activist and renowned Harlem artist whose art and career papers are in the permanent collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Hatch Billops Archives, Howard University, and scores of other well-respected American institutions. 

Afreekan Southwell – Antigua/US Virgin Islands 

Afreekan Southwell was born in Antigua. He moved to the US Virgin Islands in 1981. He is a self-taught artist whose creativity ranges from oil paintings and poetry to acting and music. He is a master wood carver and drummer. His wood carvings reflect his love for his African Heritage. He uses mahogany as his medium and with his hammer and chisel creates a transformation of this beautiful wood that is nothing less than spectacular.  Afreekan has recently added a new skill to his already long list of talents, wood turning; creating smaller objects that exhibit his extraordinary gift of communicating with the wood he is working with. Afreekan’s first solo exhibition in New York City, “Reflection of a Culture”, debuted in 2001 to positive critical reviews. He has since exhibited his creations multiple times in USVI, Barbados and the USA. 

Ann Rudder – Barbados 

“I recall ‘winning’ art competitions during my early years of primary school in Englewood, New Jersey. My Barbadian family and relatives were all very creative.   On scholarship, I graduated from New York Phoenix School of Design with a major in Advertising Art. Post college jobs culminated as Assistant Fashion Co-Ordinator for Sterns’ Bros. Department Store, 42^nd St. between 5^th & 6^th Aves. NYC. In San Francisco,1969 - 84, I free lanced in music and art productions including the Bill Graham organization, earning my Santana Abraxas album “Continuity” credit . Thereafter I designed applique banners for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire Group. Subsequent private clientele commissioned their armorial achievements: including San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral and the Royal British Legion, London UK. In 1986 I joined the Commonwealth Institute “Caribbean Focus” project, sponsored by the Borough of Hackney. Six British/Caribbean applicants were taught how to sew & craft the “Heraldry of the Commonwealth Caribbean” banner exhibition. Purchased in 1989, it is part of the Barbados Parliament Art Collection. During my art sojourn in “Bimshire”, I have shown in local and international exhibitions. My commissioned clients are personal, corporate, scholastic and religious organizations. For CaFA Fair 2024, I offer a social-history themed artwork entitled “SACRED RITES, GLORIOUS HARVESTS, OUR ICHIROUGANAIM”. It is a mixed media, acrylic, fusion artwork rendered on Barbados Blackbelly Sheepskin. Although written narratives by the original Lokono-Arawak inhabitants are rare, I’ve created a visual dialogue of documented awareness about food, customs and religions of ‘Those who survived before We arrived’ during centuries of Caribbean exploitation.

Ashley Inniss - Barbados 

“My name is Ashley Inniss and as an artist I’ve learned to see with my heart and express with my hands all the words that my mouth would never dare to speak and all the brilliance and detail that my eyes will never see this side of eternity, yet and still my heart belongs to the sea and I am captured by its gaze. Every stroke of the brush and touch of His hand is an expression of who I am as a creation of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.  As an artist my goal is to create value in the unseen.  God is the Creator.” 

Barbara Russell – Jamaica/USA 

Visiting a Massachusetts spiritual retreat hosted by a native American shaman, I returned to NYC to become a professional doodler bearing the artist name Ms. B. short for Ms. B. The Doodle Queen”.  Using ballpoint pens/markers, I doodle every day; quirky, skinny, fine lines that twist into varied fictional botanical shapes residing in colorful landscaped works on paper. Promoting my therapeutic workshops: “Doodle to Dabeat'’ & “Doodle to Refresh Your Noodle”, decreases students of all ages' stress and anxiety levels. I’m influenced by astonishing artists Romare Bearden, Leroy Clarke, Willem de Kooning, Shantell Martin, Julie Mehretu, Cy Twombly, and Robert Motherwell.  

Bernard Stanley Hoyes - Jamaica 

Bernard Hoyes lives and works in Palm Springs, California. However, his career in art began at an early age in Kingston, Jamaica when he enrolled at The Institute of Jamaica, Junior Art Center. At fifteen years old he moved to New York City to continue his academic and artistic endeavors. Classes at the Art Students League introduced him to the art scene in N.Y.C. He continued his studies at Vermont Academy, in Saxton River, VT and in 1974, he received a B.F.A. in Painting from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland.  Hoyes is particularly known for a body of work that recalls his Afro-Caribbean roots, specifically the rituals of African Spirituality and Christianity. This body of work has earned him multiple awards of excellence internationally. Hoyes has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the globe. He has created murals in the inner city of Los Angeles, CA, has curated exhibitions and served on the board of the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles. His works have been featured in numerous television and film productions, as well as collected internationally. 

Carlos Santiago – Puerto Rico 

Carlos Santiago was born in 1978 in Peñuelas, PR. He began his formal training and graduated from the Puerto Rico School of Plastic Arts in 2001. After graduating he was awarded the Arana Scholarship, providing him with the privilege of living in Paris for a year. Santiago took full advantage of his stay by enrolling at the Teophile Gautier institute; the De la Marie Fine Arts Workshop; and the Daniel Fisher Studio. In addition, he had the opportunity to work at the Alfonso Arana atelier, and at his own atelier in Gambetta. To further his technique and knowledge, Santiago joined the “Les Rats Du Champs”, a group that travels yearly to the Alps to paint exclusively in watercolors. In 2015, Santiago decided to continue his studies finishing a M.A. in Painting and Drawing from the Catholic University of Ponce, PR.  Since 2001, Santiago has held eleven individual exhibitions in Puerto Rico and abroad. Equally, he has participated in collective exhibitions in the United States, Canada, France, Peru and Puerto Rico. Santiago’s work embodies his expressionism and speaks to us of resistance, humanity, and defiance. Santiago also participated for almost 5 years as an exclusive artist of one of the most recognized and prestige art galleries in Puerto Rico, “Galeria Petrus” situated in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Carlos Santiago has also been a constant collaborator within the Puerto Rico art community, he has been teaching at the Ponce Art Museum, since 2001. He has been involved with various municipalities in the island to keep art alive in their communities. In 2020, Santiago's hometown of Peñuelas contracted Santiago to design a public art piece, a "Yo Soy Peñuelas" entrance sign to the municipality. Recently his latest public artwork, the entrance to Yauco’s Urban Park, was inaugurated in August 2022. Carlos Santiago is an artist that cares in teaching and influencing others through his artwork and vast knowledge.

Christian Soto – Puerto Rico

Visual artist, printmaker and cultural worker. He studied visual arts from a young age and pursued university studies in the same field. He uses printmaking processes from which he  draws traditional techniques and applies contemporary and experimental approaches. Philosophical ideas, the everyday and its symbols are recurrent in his work. "The printing process becomes a teaching of how indelible and perpetual experiences can be." He studied at the School of Fine Arts of Ponce from a young age. He was a conservation assistant for three-dimensional artworks at the Anton J. Konrad Conservation Center and an assistant at artist Antonio Martorell’s Taller de La Playa. He worked for the Department of Education at the Museo de Arte de Ponce. He has exhibited his work individually and in group shows including the XX International Print Biennial of Varna, Bulgaria. Independently, he has managed and curated research projects and dissemination of art history as Maestros del Sur, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Casa de Arte y Cultura de La Playa de Ponce directed by artist Diógenes Ballester and more recently, studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Printmedia Department. Christian currently works and lives in Puerto Rico.

Collab Studio (Lauren Boniface) – Martinique

Representing – Jaddict (Martinique); Antonio Figuero (T&T); Shanon Barro (Martinique)

Jaddict - Martinique

Jaddict received his artistic training in Martinique as well as Lyon, Toulouse and Valence, France. “I am a graphic designer, textile designer and visual artist. I live in Martinique. I like to observe human behavior and understand how it works. Each being is unique and one of the qualities sometimes buried deep within him. Highlight this potential that each of us has, discover it, assume it or create a questioning in the other. “Be Yourself you are magic” is the slogan of the clothing brand that I created: “Jaddict Créations”. This sentence is also recurrent in my works. I am often inspired by strong personalities such as Lumina Sophie, Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, their stories challenge me. I use different media, different techniques in my works but I particularly like the technique of «collage» whether digital or physical. My Franco-Algerian origins made me want to travel and discover the world. I lived a year in Egypt, a year in Australia. Countries like Senegal and Bali particularly marked me. I appreciated the smells, the colors, the culture, as well as the inhabitants I was able to meet. I like to learn and live new experiences, getting out of my comfort zone, inspires me in my work. My goals are to develop my art internationally as well as my clothing brand. Traveling and doing residencies with other artists in order to discuss different techniques and acquire new know-how and new experiences.”

Antonio Figuero – Trinidad & Tobago

Born and raised in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Antonio Figuero (b. 1988) is heavily influenced by his day-to-day observations as he travels across the country recording his experiences in paint. Though familiar with other types of media, Figuero's love for oils is paramount, especially his favorite cadmium yellow light - without which he admits he would feel lost as it is critical to that feeling of warm, Caribbean light which Figuero chases. His love of this particular medium, combined with the love he has for being both outside and in the hustle and bustle, makes it inevitable that the abundance of stories and visuals would be recorded in this way, much to the public's delight. Figuero's work is featured in collections internationally, including the USA, Europe, and various Caribbean countries.

Shanon Barro - Martinique

Based in Martinique, Shanon BARRO comes from a family of artisan jewelers. Artist and creator, she grew up in the heights of Fort de-France. She spent a very free childhood there where drawing, reading, the river, and video games were mixed. After a preparatory class Hypokâgne in Fort-de-France, she pursued further training with a degree in visual arts, a school of Landscape, a school of cinema; in Aix-en-Provence and then Paris, where she perfected her photography and audiovisual production. Although nostalgia for the Caribbean grew, it embraced artists such as Dubuffet, Pierre Bonnard, masters of shapes and colors, as well as American filmmakers of the 70s. At the same time, she worked as a freelancer to produce a small program for the Guadeloupe Region or other countries, webcasts and photo reports for the Martinique Region. Back in Martinique, she joined the family business Kayali Kreasyon, a costume jewelry artisan, and immersed herself in the world of the Foyale handicrafts and crystals market. The intersection between Art and the working-class milieu of the Market led her to think of herself as an artist of everyday life and wide-open spaces, specializing in murals and the personalization of everyday objects.

Charles Jean-Pierre - Haiti 

Charles Philippe Jean-Pierre is a Howard University Alum and American University adjunct professor in fine arts. His exhibitions include the U.S. State Department, IMF, IDB, Smithsonian, & Embassy of Haiti. He was a 2015 Obama White House invitee for arts in Youth Justice. His practice recognizes the erasure of our complex histories & challenges the narrative that we are perpetual outsiders. JeanPierre's work attempts to create the informed cultural context needed to make sense of the American connection to the global south, and vice versa.

Cher Antoinette Corbin – Barbados 

Barbadian Forensic Scientist, Visual Artist & Writer, Cher-Antoinette is multi-faceted and has been successful at NIFCA in Photography 2009, Literary Arts 2011/2012/2013/2014 and Fine Arts 2012/2013. She has published a poetic anthology MY SOUL CRIES in 2013, VIRTUALIS: A New Age Love Story in 2014 and ARCHITECTS OF DESTINY: Poetry & Prose in 2015. Her artistic journey started in earnest in 2014 where she decided to let her work speak to her life. A self-taught emerging artist, the process included finding what media she was most comfortable with and resulted in works of Watercolour, Pen & Ink, Charcoal, Acrylic and a mixed media of all three. Most recently she has ventured into Modern Pointillism and Hard Edge Abstract Art. Cher has gotten much attention since the launch of C-Toi Wearable Art, a jewelry line that showcases her Acrylic Fluid Art. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and brings art to the average person in an affordable form. The pieces are also enhanced with healing crystals such as amethyst, hematite and black onyx. She has had two solo art exhibitions, “Just Call Me Sarah” at the UWI in 2017 and “The Colours of My Life” in 2018 at the OAS Marcus Garvey Gallery and the Barbados Embassy in Washington DC. Cher is an active artist within the local fraternities of Artist Alliance Barbados, who hosted a national exhibition celebrating our island’s 50th year of Independence; and Artist Studio Tours Barbados who showcases the artists via onsite studio visits and online gallery viewing and auctions.  

Chris Cumberbatch - Barbados 

Christopher Cumberbatch is an acclaimed artist, a graduate of Art and Design High School, and Parsons School of Design.  He has been an active member of the Local 829 Scenic Artist Union for over 20 years and developed a thriving decorative paint company. Chris is presently the Charge Scenic Painter for the 2022 upcoming movie The TV Glows and The Best Man 3. In 2021 he was the Camara Scenic on Michael Che’s “Comedy Show”, and Saturday Night Live. Chris worked as Camara Scenic and Scenic Artist on Awkwafina “Nora from Queens”, he was Camara Scenic on the Netflix production Kevin James “The Crew”, and he was a Scenic Artist on the Fox TV production “Prodigal Son”. A few film productions that he worked on includes, Tonya Lewis Lee’s Monster, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Robert De Niro’s A Bronx Tale. Chris designed the set for the 2022 National Black Theater productions Gong Lum's Legacy. In 2020 he was the Poster Designer for the documentary film, “Chicago, Americas Hidden War”. 2017 Chris’ received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Theater Festival. Other theatrical awards include 6 Audelco Awards: 2019 “Looking for Leroy”, 2018 “Harriet’s Return”, 2015 Black Wall Street, additional Audelco Awards include, Nuyorican Poets Café, presentation of “Meeting Miss Lilly”, and Julius Caesar set in Africa” and National Black Theater presentation of “The Shaneequa Chronicles”, Woody King Jr’s New Federal Theater “Finding Leroy”. His fine art paintings were featured in a solo exhibition at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza’s “Skylight Gallery” in 2006 as well as exhibitions at The Poets Den Theatre and Gallery, NYC, 2009 and 2013.

Diogenes Ballester – Puerto Rico 

Diogenes Ballester, visual artist, educator, and writer holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BFA from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He has taught as Professor of Art at The Cooper Union in New York City, the State University of New York at New Paltz, the College of New Rochelle and The State University of New York at Albany. Mr. Ballester’s work explores oral history, memory, mythology, ritual, and cultural identity along a transnational spectrum. In recent exhibitions, he has appropriated cultural objects and historical artifacts together with painting, drawing, prints and new media as a way of accessing the past and re-interpreting the present in a trans-Caribbean dialogue.  Ballester has received numerous honors for his artistic work and has exhibited widely in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. His work is in numerous private and public collections. 

Elodie Cage-Smith - Guyana 

Elodie Cage-Smith, born in October 1983 on the enchanting French island of Martinique (naturalized Guyanese), is a distinguished artist known for her captivating works that transcend boundaries. Her artistry, characterized by a fusion of diverse techniques and materials, reflects a deep connection to the Caribbean and its rich cultural tapestry. Elodie embarked on her educational journey by acquiring a Professional Baccalaureate in Crafts and Artistic Professions, specializing in Clothing and Fashion Accessories. Subsequently, she honed her skills at the E.R. Burrows School of Art, graduating with a Diploma in Fine Arts. Elodie continued her academic pursuits at the University of Guyana, earning a B.A. Degree in Fine Arts. Demonstrating a commitment to lifelong learning, she obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Education (DIPED) in 2023. In addition to her academic achievements, Elodie is an active member of the Guyana Woman Artist (GWWA) community, contributing to the vibrant artistic scene. Her role as a lecturer at the University of Guyana showcases her dedication to nurturing aspiring artists. Elodie Cage-Smith's artistic journey, enriched by a comprehensive education and diverse experiences, continues to unfold, promising an even more vibrant and impactful contribution to the world of art.

Gina Samson - Haiti  

Gina Samson’s work has been influenced by the rich cultural heritage and vibrant colors of the Caribbean, as well as the New York City urban environment. After showing interest in the arts at a young age, she enrolled in her high school’s art program, took classes and workshops at the Art Students League and NYU’s School of Continuing Education, and participated in shows and competitions. She regularly exhibits in the New York metropolitan area and her work is featured in several corporate and private collections. In her view, artwork reflects the importance of creation and imagination in everyone’s life. Working primarily in painting, collage and drawing, she aims to create works that incite reflection; while bringing to the viewer an appreciation of the pride, resilience and cultural achievements of the African Diaspora. Currently her work explores in two series the immigrant experience and the interplay of music and the visual arts: “This series focuses on the relationship between the 2 art forms and is linked to fact that I most often listen to jazz while I’m working”. Jazz has been the “soundtrack” of this production. 

Krystal Ann Art Gallery – Guadeloupe

Representing – Jocelyn Akwaba-Matignon (Guadeloupe); Claudine Barclais; Alison Bignon (Reunion Island); Jean Francois Bocle (Martinique); Chantalea Commin (Guadeloupe); Giana De Dier (Panama); Christophe Mert (Martinique); David Ne (Guadeloupe); Sandrine Plante (Reunion Island); Francoise Semiramoth (Guadeloupe)

Jocelyn Akwaba Matignon

Claudine Barclais

Born in 1977, intuitive painter Claudine BARCLAIS embodies the essence of singular creativity. Between studies, training, work, marriage, children and divorce, she decided to leave the stress of Paris in 2010 to settle in the Var. However, the decisive turning point came in 2015, when the irresistible call to paint emerged. Instead of imminently investing in the expected school supplies, Claudine, buoyed by this irrepressible inspiration, returned from the races with three canvases and the essentials for painting. In just five months, this new impetus propelled her towards her first exhibition, a veritable artistic tour de force, followed by her first sale at Galerie RAVAISOU in Bandol. Since that founding moment, a whirlwind of exhibitions has marked her career, with some fifteen events both in France and in Martinique, where she chose to return to live in 2017. Navigating virtuously between the spheres of intuitive art and transcendent contemplation, Claudine BARCLAIS fuses the breath of life, light and color to create works where spontaneity, improvisation and energy converge harmoniously, inviting the viewer to travel beyond conventional aestheticism. Her bold experiments finely explore the subtle nuances between rational behavior and intuitive action, unfolding a singular universe born of the exploration of unknown territories, both visible and invisible. Claudine's captivating creations question the soul, language and the powers of representation. Using a variety of tools such as brush, knife and even her fingers, she generates multidimensional renderings, blending the elemental, the cosmic, the intimate and the scriptural. Her dearest wish lies in deep resonance with the Soul, allowing each viewer to interpret the message intended for them through this visionary work. Claudine BARCLAIS has established herself as an outstanding artist, navigating virtuously between the spheres of intuitive art and transcendent contemplation.

Jean-François Boclé

Jean-François Boclé is an artist based in Paris. He was born in Martinique in 1971 where he lived for 17 years. He studied art at the École nationale supérieure d’art de Bourges (1992-95) and at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (1995-98). His work has been displayed, among other places, at the Van Gogh Museum (solo show in the frame of the exhibition Gauguin & Laval in Martinique, Amsterdam), at the Saatchi Gallery in London (group show Pangaea: New Art from Africa and Latin America in 2015 and 2019), at the Queens Museum (Caribbean: Crossroads of the World, New York), at the National Museum of World Culture (Stockholm), at the CCK Centro Cultural Kirchner (Buenos Aires), at the MAC Bolivia, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo-MAC (Chili) at the MAC Panamá, at the MAC Puerto Rico, at the Philharmonie de Paris - Cité de la Musique, at the BildMuseet (Sweden), at the Modern and CAC Contemporary Art Museum ILHAM Gallery (Kuala Lumpur), at the Mémorial ACTe (Guadeloupe), at the Kunsthal KadE (Netherlands), at the Pabellón Cuba (La Habana), at the CUC Liverpool (UK). He participated to 13 international biennials in Europe, Latin America, Caribbean and Asia. Jean-François Boclé is represented in the public collection of the FNAC Fond National d'Art Contemporain and in private collections such as the Saatchi Collection. He was pre-sectioned for the construction of the Slavery Memorial at the Tuileries (Paris).

Chantalea Commin

Chantalea Commin is a multimedia artist born in Guadeloupe. Chantalea is Afro Caribbean and Hindu artist. She studied visual art, at the fine art school in Paris. Chantalea participated in the following art exhibition and residences: Cinematographic residency at the Kadioute-Boucotte Bush Museum, Casamance, Senegal, 2005, Caribbean and Overseas Cinema Week, Paris, 2018, Numéris Clausus Exhibition, Fondation Clément, Martinique, 2021, Participation in the year of France in Japan, Kyoto, 2021, PAG exhibition with the Maison de l’architecture Guadeloupe, Mémorial Acte, 2021 Exhibition The risks of art, Atrium, Martinique, 2022, Rome film festival, Italy 2023. Chantalea has collaborated with Krystel Ann Art since 2022. The gallery exhibited her works in Paris, Lisbon, and Guadeloupe.

Giana De Dier

Giana De Dier, (Panama, born 1980) studied Visual Arts at the University of Panama. She has shown her work at the Salone degli Incanti and Gallerie delle Prigioni in Italy, the Art Gallery of the Association of IDB Employees in Washington, SMV Gallery in New York, Allegro Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama and the 58th Carnegie International of the Carnegie Museum of Art. Giana De Dier is collaborating with Krystel Ann Art since 2021, she exhibited with the gallery in Lisbon, Paris, London, Mexico, Miami, Madrid. In 2023, De Dier had a residence at Delphina Foundation in London, and at Museum del Canal in Panama. Her works are on view at the Museum del Canal until the end of the year.

David Né

David Né Resides and works in Martinique (FWI). Born René-David Nelzin in 1979, he is a multidisciplinary visual artist, mural painter, fashion and object designer. Creator of "Rurban" Street Art. Originally from Guadeloupe, René-David Nelzin is a multidisciplinary visual artist involved in various disciplines such as education, writing, illustration, public speaking, and even fashion design. His versatile work explores a variety of mediums, providing a sharp analysis of contemporary society, often examined in an educational context, from schools to universities. In parallel, his commitment to recycling and sustainable development fuels an approach to social archaeology of Caribbean society. According to Nelzin, the concept of the Creole Garden becomes a space for freedom and cultural reappropriation. Formerly associated with terms like "slave garden," it is transformed into a tool for resistance and mental emancipation. It is a terrain where the artist cultivates a cultural identity defined as contemporary Afro-Caribbean art. His series "Les mises en boîte" offers a scenic vision of painting, combining various materials. Framing choices reflect his interest in photography and cinema, allowing for a precise representation of everyday situations. This "mise en boîte" approach places the viewer in a position of voyeurism into the intimacy of the country. Each artwork projects into a whimsical world, imbued with humor, an aesthetic specific to Creole culture. These creations, expressed through visual parables, present a universe where things are unveiled and hidden, requiring an understanding of specific codes.

Christophe Mert

Ever since I was a child, I have felt the urge to express myself through drawing. Over the years, the passion for drawing has given way to an externalization of my feelings through painting. For a while, I mainly talked about my environment (my family, the scenes of the Martinican cultural landscape). Then I wanted my painting to help me formulate my questions about my culture, my identity. Also, certain references to Africa began to appear in my works. Being in perpetual questioning, my introspection leads me to our Amerindian heritage, which is not visible on a daily basis but which undeniably participates in our balance. My quest for identity has allowed me to discover all the components that make up my people and to consider that I belong to a multicultural society. Having become aware that this plural identity was our strength and should be included in my work, I seek by all means to make it appear in my work. To do this, in order to produce a plural and balanced work, my supports, materials and techniques are multiple. Certain colours also play a codified role in the composition of my work: yellow = energy; red = strength and dignity; white = ancestral; green = family and fertility; blue = knowledge and knowledge. Not wanting to lose sight of the fact that painting is for me a mode of expression that allows me to externalize my feelings while having fun, I compose by moving from abstract to figurative, one mixing with the other to create a harmony (man lé pran pié-mwen, é man ka pran'y!). My creation is divided between reflection, research, and expression. Martinique in all its diversity is my primary source of inspiration. It is by discovering its history, by seeing myself as I am, that I was able to open my creation to the outside world. Through painting, I want to communicate with elsewhere while privileging my Martinican origins. Because this country, with its complex background, offers me a very wide cultural richness. For a few years now, there has been a character in my work that I call "Marcaraïmôn'", Martinique. Caribbean. World. My multiple identity is thus affirmed in my composition with: Martinique as roots, the Caribbean as a trunk and the World as branches.

Sandrine Plante

Sandrine Plante is a French sculptor born in 1974 in Clermont-Ferrand. On her father's side, she is from Reunion Island. At the age of 8 years old, she felt the call for sculpture. Sandrine studied art history in Auvergne, France before perfecting her sculpture techniques at Jean Chauchard atelier, Roma, Italy, the school of Volvic stone carving and architecture of Puy de Dome, France, and Gigi Guadagnucci Massa atelier, Carrara, Italy. In 2023, Sandrine received highest level of recognition by the french art, sciences and literature academy: The "vermeille" Medal. Sandrine Plante works have been commission by the Legacy Museum Montgomery Alabama USA 2023, The European Museum of Blues music, France 2023, The garden of the Museum of fine arts in Bordeaux, France, 2019, Gorée Island Museum and memorial, Senegal, Africa, 2019, The Museum of Villèle, Réunion island 2018, The museum of slavery in Martinique island. Since 2021, Sandrine is collaborating with Krystel Ann Art. The gallery exhibited her in art fairs, spaces and institutions in Paris, Guadeloupe island, Martinique island, Madrid, Lisbon.

Francoise Semiramoth

Françoise Sémiramoth, born in 1968 is a Guadeloupean visual artist, graduated from Esaaix Ecole supérieure d’arts Félix Ciccolini in Aix-en-Provence, completed with a Master of fine arts. She lives and works in Marseilles. Francoise Semiramoth’s work is inspired by figurative and abstract artists such as Esther Mahlangu, Bridget Riley, Joseph Alberts, Matisse, and Italian Renaissance. Françoise is experimenting with colors, light, and shades. She is transposing the European master codes and esthetics to the Caribbean setting and narrative. In 2018/2019 “Caravage créole”’s project received grants for visuals arts and creation from Regional Direction of Cultural, Region Sud, City Hall of Marseilles and from the Prime Minister’s office with the Interministerial Delegation for Equal Opportunities for French Overseas. For the past years, she has collaborated closely with the renowned writer Maryse Condé (Alternative Nobel Prize of Literature in 2018, Winner of the Cino Del Duca world Prize in 2021), making small videos and paintings. In 2020, she took part with Maryse Condé at the exhibition “It’s Urgent!” curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist at LUMA Foundation, Arles, France. Françoise Semiramoth has been collaborating with Krystel Ann art gallery since 2020 and exhibited her works in Paris, Lisbon, Miami, Mexico, and Madrid. In 2022, she was awarded at the Brown foundation fellows’ program at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes and took part of the exhibition “Les amities de Maryse Condé” at Museum of European and Mediterranean civilization- MUCEM. Since 2023, she’s also working with Lois Lambert gallery Santa Monica where she had her first solo show in the United States “Color as a territory”. Françoise Sémiramoth is part of Dora Maar House, Museum of Contemporary Art of Martinique MACMA, FRAC Sud, Multimedia Library Charles Nègre in Grasse and private collections

Lisame - Barbados 

LisaMe is a New York-based, contemporary artist who comes from a diverse cultural background. Like her artwork, which is eclectic and vibrant, she experiments with different mediums in painting, photography and design. She loves to travel and interact with a wide variety of people and places to broaden her experiences. Nature is a huge inspiration in her creative process. As an eco-friendly and eco-sensitive artist, LisaMe uses recycled items as much as possible in her creations. She uses her artwork as a platform to raise awareness and start healthy conversations about life. Her formal training was acquired at the Art Institute of Fort

Lauderdale in Florida and Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. Her photography and artwork have been showcased in numerous publications, exhibits and galleries both internationally and in North America 

Ludwig Medina – Puerto Rico 

Ludwig Medina Cruz was born in 1973 in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 2002, he began his interest in Art, exploring the medium of Photography. In 2004, he obtained a certificate in photography from the Sister Isolina Ferré Center (Ponce Beach), as well as from the University of Puerto Rico (Río Piedras). He has worked as a freelance photojournalist for the print magazine and website, Noctámbulo, the newspaper El Nuevo Día, the weekly La Perla del Sur and as a specialized teacher for the Photojournalism Workshop. His photographic images have received recognition in competitions such as the Fotomaratón-Manatí (2003), the Puerto Rico Photojournalists Association Contest (2004) and the Overseas Press Club of Puerto Rico (2010). Individually, he has presented the exhibitions entitled Paisaje mínimo at the Trinitaria Gallery (Ponce, 2006), Artificios at the Centro Cultural Cayacol (Juana Díaz, 2012), Entre Medios at the Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Pila (Ponce, 2013), Síntesis at the Centro Cultural Carmen Solá de Pereira (Ponce, 2015), En Ascenso at the Art Gallery of the Department of Humanities of the University of Puerto Rico (Mayagüez, 2016), Seña de identidad en De Arte @ Plaza del Caribe (Ponce, 2017), Deliberate Forms at the Betances Gallery (Mayagüez, 2018). He completed a Master of Arts Degree with a Specialty in Painting and Drawing (2016), from the Graduate Program of the Department of Fine Arts of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Recently, he has served as Professor of Fine Arts and Communications for PUCPR and as Project Coordinator for the Trinitaria Gallery and La Galería @ Plaza del Caribe. Between 2020 and 2021 he founded and directed El Anexo: Espacio de Arte. Currently, he carries out cultural management as a collaborator of the Marina 15 Gallery.

Malique Shorey - Barbados 

Malique Shorey was born Barbados on February 6^th, 2000. He was not always an artist initially. He was more of an aspirant to greater things or a dreamer, but always to something vague and unsure, always fleeting. His path as an artist started on a whim after his CSEC exams. With no clear route at the time he chose to go to the Barbados Community College and obtain an Associate Degree in Fine Art. Now his body of works consist mainly of small and medium sized paintings but seek to extend outside of traditional bounds of art by using sculpture, painting, storytelling and designing to create not only a set of art works but also a space for them to exist and belong. Malique’s work has been displayed at The Barbados Community College Gallery and at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. Not one to be confined to just the galleries, he has also created logos and tattoo designs for companies and individuals alike. 

Maxanne Rock – St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Maxanne Rock is a visual artist based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has a degree in Fine arts from the Academia de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Abela in Havana, Cuba. His artwork includes paintings and drawings and has been creating artwork for over twelve years. His paintings are done using different mediums which include acrylic, oil and charcoal on canvas while the drawings are done using graphite, charcoal or coloured pencil. Maxanne’s passion and energy is to transform the inner thoughts into a masterpiece. His style is inspired by the many different art movements. He states that his artistic style is not set in one tone but is still ever evolving. His art pieces can be found in St. Vincent, Barbados, USA and Italy. He was also the principal lead on the mural painting displayed at the Coreas Distribution Limited Headquarters, Diamonds, that reflected the history of the airports and air travel in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Maxanne is also an art teacher who keenly seeks to inspire the youths to appreciate art and to be creative in every aspect of their lives. He finds joy in showing them how to develop and enhance their artistic abilities to better themselves in the future. Maxanne has always had a love for art from childhood. He believes that “art says a thousand words” to those who behold its beauty.

Megan Maguire – USVI

Moses Ros-Suarez – Dominican Republic 

Moses Ros‐Suárez is best known for his intense paintings and sculptures that transform common objects in his characteristically expressionist style. His large graphics of figures and objects explore themes such as AIDS awareness, the global economic crisis, and personal versus national identity and power. Ros--‐Suárez has had one--‐person exhibitions at museums in the United States and the Caribbean, including the Yeshiva University Museum, New York; the Paterson Museum, New Jersey; and the Instituto de Cultura y Arte in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The New York Department of Cultural Affairs and the Bronx Council for the Arts have awarded him commissions for public sculptures, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority for stained glass windows. A licensed architect in the state of New York, Ros-Suárez is a graduate of the Pratt Institute. 

Patricia Brintle - Haiti 

Self-taught artist Patricia Brintle was born in Haiti and immigrated to the United States in 1964.  Although she has made the U.S. her residence, her colorful style reflects her native land. Her works on the Holocaust are on permanent display at the Holocaust Center of Temple Judea in New York and are used as teaching tools for visitors.  One of her religious works, The First Mother, travelled with the Black Madonna Exhibit which made its debut at the famed National Museum of Catholic Art and History in New York and toured museums throughout the United States. One of her paintings hangs in the permanent collection of Albert Schweitzer Institute in Hamden, Connecticut, and her images have been published in both secular and religious periodicals.  

Rachel Smith Sepulveda – Puerto Rico

Smith Sepulveda is an artist from Ponce, Puerto Rico born in 1989. She completed her studies in architectural drafting and land surveying at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, also studied Mural Science and visual arts in the UNAM, and the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Ponce. She dedicated her next years to community art, creating works in marginalized urban spaces on her own and through art festivals designed to restore public areas. Her works are featured in cities such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Bogota (Colombia), Santiago (Chile), and Bangkok (Thailand), Puerto Rico among others. She has actively created and participated in a number of contemporary art expositions. Through her works, Smith Sepulveda promotes a thematic principle that reflects the collective repudiation of the austerity measures that the United States imposes upon its colonies and how those measures tend to negatively impact the colonies’ economy and development. Currently founded the Artistas pa’l Sur movement, artist resident and member of the sinergetic contingent in La Casa de Arte y Cultura de La Playa de Ponce and working a new curating project SMITH CURATES.

Ras Ilix Heartman – Barbados  

Ras Ilix Heartman, wood sculptor and farmer, was born in Barbados.  His first international exposure was at the Third Havana Biennial in Cuba which was followed by the “In The Spirit Festival" at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, Since then his work has been exhibited at numerous exhibitions in Barbados and in the U.S.  His sculpture Melchizedek was awarded "Best In Show" at the 1997 Black History Month Exhibition held at New York’s Hintersteiner Gallery in Washington Heights.  Ras Ilix’ 2012 solo show received critical acclaim at the Queen’s Park Gallery in Barbados. His sculptures are a part on many private and public collections including the Barbados National Collection. 

Richlin Burnett Ryan 

Richlin Ryan was born in Guyana, South America and after immigrating to the US at 9 years old grew up in Brooklyn. She received her training at New York City’s School of Visual Arts and Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York. In 1991 she married artist, Weldon Ryan, and started a family. With her husband started Rich and Well graphics, Inc. Later she worked as the Art Director of IDD Magazine for Thompson Financial, NYC. In 2004 she moved to Palm Coast Florida with her family and continued working as a graphic designer. She created Greenup Magazine, Voice Youth Magazine for the Florida Endowment Foundation, and was the creative art director for OVT magazine. In 2016 Richlin and Weldon Ryan opened Calypso Fine Art Gallery. Presently she is a full-time artist and curated art exhibitions for Bethune-Cookman University Performing Arts Center and Visual Gallery; and the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Educational Gallery. Her paintings are rich assemblages of layered forms, vibrant colors, expressions and gestures. They have been exhibited widely at galleries and institutions in Chicago, Florida, and Washington DC.

Steve Reid - Barbados 

Steve Reid is a University of the West Indies trained agriculturist who has worked within the agricultural and financial services sectors for over two decades. Pottery making, however, has always appealed to his creative spirit and was brought to light in the early ’90s with displays at the Bridgetown Market and at the Barbados Crop Over Festival. His work often shows plant life and natural features of his environment, and embodies an ancient spirit in a unique, contemporary style. 

Tau Battice – St. Kitts/Nevis

Tau Battice was born in Basseterre, St. Kitts-Nevis, and is based in New York City. He is a lifelong lover of the photograph and its power to preserve the moment, proclaim nuance, and propel humanity to positive action. He teaches at Guttman, City University of New York and lives in Harlem. Specializing in portraiture, with a primary interest in creating visual ethnographies of the underrepresented African diaspora, Tau engages in long-term personal projects from the Bronx to Brazil where he strives to honorably document communities of African descent. He has done photographic work in The Dominican Republic, Colombia, Chile, England, and Brazil. He exhibits widely with 27 solo and group exhibits to date. His images have been published from the U.S. to Japan in publications such as “The Huffington Post”, “HYCIDE, “The Nation”, “The Village Voice”, “Kajima” and “Nueva Luz. On the strength of his ethnographic portraits of his Caribbean homeland, Tau was selected to deliver the nationally televised Prime Minister's Lecture in Basseterre, St. Kitts in September 2022 and "40 x

40: A Photographic Journey of Independence and Resilience" at the National Arts Center in Ottawa, Canada in September 2023. Tau is currently working on his first monograph, “Daddying”, which visually explores the relationships between Black fathers and their sons.

Tavernelle Wells – Trinidad & Tobago 

Trinidad and Tobago visual artist, Tavernelle Wells, employs a unique, organised style of diagonally weaving brushstrokes to create depth and layers of meaning. This intricate texture blends her once-corporate existence with her creative practice. Her paintings are her visual journal capturing her creative journey. Each engages the viewer to consider a contemplative life. Tavernelle was a finalist at the 2012 Embracing Our Differences Exhibition in Sarasota, FL, United States. She participated in the 2019 CARIFESTA XIV (Caribbean Regional Arts Festival) in the Lived In Exhibition in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She also represented her country in 2022 at the 9th Beijing International Art Biennale hosted at the National Art Museum of China.

Vetivert Contemporary – Dominica

Representing – Aaron Hamilton; Carla Armour; Carol Sorhaindo; Hilroy Fingal; Margeaux Larocque; Marica Honeychurch; Michael Lees; Yaena Eugine-Carbon

Aaron Hamilton – Dominica

Aaron Hamilton is an artist and a native of the island of Dominica and the village of Concord where he began and completed his elementary education. At present Mr. Hamilton now resides in the community of Canefield, a few minutes’ drive north of the capital city of Roseau. Aaron has a unique style of painting which brings out his individuality as an artist. He enjoys creating images using pastels, watercolour, ink and pencils, oils, charcoal, and acrylic paint. He declared that a small percentage of his art is influenced by where he lives presently. The Old Mill Cultural Centre where he works is in the vicinity of his home and it allows him to have access to many art supplies. However, his inspiration always goes back to his childhood home where the rivers and mountains with the variety of tints and shades of colors drive his thoughts; this is what compels his art. In addition, the seashore which can be found in his community is presently one of his most favorite or stimulating places. He says, “Most of my paintings are influenced by the community where I grew up. Concord is known as a village with many beautiful flowers, rivers, mountains and trees, those memories can never be forgotten. They are my driving force that is where my creative mind was born.”

Carla Armour - Dominica 

Carla Armour is a visual artist currently living in Brighton, England. After graduating from Parsons School of Design (NYC) in the 80’s she returned to her Caribbean Island, Dominica where she immersed herself in the island’s Art scene finding her message through abstract symbolism in mixed media paintings, fashion, Conceptual and Installation art, poetry and spoken word performances. Armour continues to work within her Lifelines series; employing tribal symbols and prehistoric glyph images and markings. Her current work, ‘Resonance’, explores the use of ritual elements and sacred spaces and objects to imbed messages into her pieces. She has participated in shows and exhibitions over the years in the Caribbean, US, Europe & Namibia, some of which included the International Art Project ‘Women of the World, a global collection of Art’, submissions and readings for Literary Festivals, an International Artist Exchange, ‘Carambolage’ with 8 artists from Austria and Dominica. 

Hilroy Fingal – Dominica 

Hilroy Fingal is a 52-year-old Dominican artist who resides at home in Dominica, “The nature island of the Caribbean”. Hilroy studied art in high school and continued through private instruction. His love of drawing began at a very young age and the passion continues today. His mediums include acrylic, watercolour, pencil, pen, charcoal, and airbrush. Other creative skills include sculpting in wood, metal, and papier mâché, jewelry making and fabric painting. 

Hilroy has exhibited frequently over the years.  Recent outdoor installations which include his participation with the Waitukubuli Artist Association (WAA) in 2022, are: the iconic Dominica art Installation at the Dominica Cruise Ship Berth in Roseau, commissioned by the Discover Dominica Authority and the Cadence Lypso Murals which house portraits of Cadence Lypso enthusiasts who were instrumental in developing Cadence Music in Dominica. Hilroy has worked behind the scenes in the construction and building of the skeleton framework in metal and wood of an 8ft replica of the late Earl Darius Etienne in Sensay costume. This was exhibited at the VVIP Lounge during the World Creole Music Festival in October 2022, and the project was commissioned by NexConnex Ltd. His exceptional skill and style are unique to him. Hilroy has taught art in various communities around the island, judged art exhibitions, shows and has done commercial art with businesses in the city. Hilroy has been recognized for his continued development of art on the island by the Cultural Division of the Government of Dominica, and in 2016, earned a special recognition award for Excellence in Art.

Michael Lees – Dominica 

Michael Lees is a Dominican filmmaker and photographer whose work focuses on the themes of nature, development, and our relationship to the natural world. Michael graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he transitioned from majoring in business at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, to a degree in communication studies with a focus in media production, minoring in business & PPE (Political science, philosophy, & Economics). In 2020, Michael released his debut documentary, “Uncivilized”, which led him into the forests of Dominica, where he would face Hurricane Maria alone in a palm leaf and bamboo hut. The film premiered at the Trinidad Film Festival in 2019 and went on to screen at festivals across America, Europe and the Caribbean. It won the Caribbean Spirit award in 2020 at the Barbados Independent Film Festival, as well as best documentary at the Cinestar Festival in Guadeloupe in 2022. Lees has written, shot, and edited for clients including National Geographic, Lonely Planet, UNICEF & Billboard. He has exhibited his photography work at national exhibitions as well as the OECS exhibition Climate Change: An Eastern Caribbean Journey. Michael is an Executive member of both the Waitukubuli Artist Association & SHAPE (The Society for Historic Architectural Preservation & Enhancement).

Vidho Lorville - Haiti

Vidho Lorville's artwork is currently a part of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation art collection New Orleans, Louisiana, the National Museum of Mexican Art Chicago, the McKenna Museum of African American Art, New Orleans, Louisiana. He received rewards and fellowships from art institutions including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation 2011, the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation 2006, the Joan Mitchell Foundation 2006, among others. Between 2005 and 2006, he was one of the selected artists for the studio space program of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, LMCC with an artist grant from the Andy Warhol foundation. In the summer of 2002, the jury's selection of his art portfolio granted him a full scholarship to be an artist participant of the Skowhegan Art School of Painting and Sculpture residency program of the same year. Vidho’s artwork has been exhibited widely in the US and abroad and he has received critical acclaim by critics and publications including New York 1 News, NY Times, NY Arts Magazine, and New Orleans Times Picayune News. In 2011, his ongoing community outreach project took the initiative to connect children of New Orleans and Haiti through the making of a public art project of a mural, which is documenting and sharing their experiences of natural disaster survivors of these two places. Vidho Lorville is currently living in the city of New York where he continues to make artwork and teach visual art.  

Weldon Ryan – Trinidad & Tobago

Weldon Ryan (b.1962) was born in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Graduate of the

H.S. of Art and Design 1981 and attended the State University at New Paltz, 1981- 82, Attended Fashion Institute of Technology, 1982 – 85. Graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1985, A.A. In General Illustration. Interned at Quato Book Publishing 1985-1986, freelance comp artist for Ad Agencies. 1987 to 1989 NYC Urban Park Ranger. In 1989 worked for NYPD as a Police Officer and Forensic Artist Unit in 1994 till retirement in 2004 and now resides in Palm Coast, Florida. Weldon draws inspiration from his homeland's culture and traditions. For nearly thirty years, he has been painting carnival scenes, depicting the colorful celebration of Caribbean culture. Weldon's art has gained recognition and appreciation from people around the world. His paintings have been featured in various galleries and exhibitions, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. For Weldon, painting is not just a profession but a passion. He hopes that his art will inspire and encourage others to embrace their culture with pride and celebrate it.

Artphoria! Presented by Artiverse 

In collaboration with the Bridgetown International Arts Festival

Kiera Beckles - Barbados

Barbadian visual artist Kiera Beckles began drawing and painting at a young age and developed a passion for creating. She completed her Associate Degree in Visual Art in 2020, and three years later completed her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. She has a particular interest in abstraction, natural elements, mixed media, and fashion. Kiera seeks to create visually engaging pieces and encourage viewers to interact (either with the piece or with other viewers). Her first major exhibition was in 2023 in the Barbados Community College exit exam entitled ‘O-pit-in’, where she first explored having the audience interact with her work. Kiera currently creates meticulous paintings on both wood and canvas and incorporates mixed media elements. She established Kie Studios in 2023.

Rheanna Coombes – Barbados

“My name is Rheanna Coombes and I’m 27 years of age. I’m a creative who loves painting. I don’t have a signature art style so you won’t find any patterns with my work other than the fact that my work is usually acrylic and has textures. I love the idea of connecting with a piece by both sight and touch. Over the years I’ve grown a lot with how free I am when I paint. I no long go after perfection with my details; now I just let my hand and the brush flow as it pleases. For me art is freedom and sometimes the viewer should connect with it and find happiness in it. I hope that you, the viewer, connect with my work and find your own peace in them.”

Petra Emmanuel - Barbados

Petra Emmanuel has always been a creative soul. From very young, a pencil and paper were her best friends, as she sketched various shapes in black and white. Having spent many days in the art room at The Combermere School, quietly engaging the artistic genius of Mr. Karl Broodhagen, she was steadily introduced to the world of colour. Although she possessed an innate artistic talent, it was never fully explored until well into her adult years. It was the encouragement of her three children which led her into the public domain, to finally let others see the work she had done in the span of over 10 years. In 2017, she entered the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) for the first time and won an award for her unusual triangular piece entitled, “Daytime Sail”. The frame was created by this gifted artist, who has since developed a passion for creating Relief art in her unique mixed media pieces. Her primary medium is acrylic paint and a variety of materials, including Barbados mahogany. Apart from NIFCA awards and exhibitions, she has expanded on her creative reach and has displayed her work digitally and physically at annual Crop Over Exhibitions, the Gallery of Caribbean Art, as well as at group shows held at the Barbados Arts Council, ArtSplash Art Gallery and the Artiverse virtual exhibition, Artphoria! 2.

Petra Toyin Haynes – Barbados

Petra Toyin Haynes is an award-winning, multi-talented, artistic and self-motivated young lady who injects energy and creativity into any organization or activity she is engaged with. She has led various artistic and cultural workshops around the island and brings to the table a vast collection of skills and experience. Petra is a highly accomplished artist in many disciplines; Face and Body Art, Painting, Sculpture, Masquerade and Costume Design, Mural Design and Production, Set Design for Stage and Film. Her work exemplifies extensions of herself or in most instances direct self-portraits. African influences are demonstrative of formative years spent in Nigeria. Her parents Wendell and Francilla Haynes both educators taught in Nigeria for a number of years and Petra grew to be strongly influenced by the country’s artistic expressions, motifs and symbols found primarily in masks and sculpture.

“Diaspora Dialogue “XI” – special exhibition of Global Diaspora Artists 

Josh Kidd - UK 
Josh Kidd is a Painter, a Filmmaker and a Writer. He was born in South-East London and is of mixed Caribbean and British decent. Kidd has been drawing and writing ever since he could pick up a pen, but it wasn’t until he moved to NYC to study acting that he really started his journey as an Artist. Josh had his first exhibition in 2019 for the Grenfell tower anniversary. Since then, he has been successful in selling many of his paintings. His most popular work are the abstract expressions that he makes. In this work, Kidd attempts to express the multitude of different people’s facial expressions with acrylic paint on paper. 

Khuumba Ama - USA 

Khuumba Ama hails from the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor of Savannah, Georgia. She now resides in Harlem, USA. She is a full time multi-dimensional Visual Artist, Storyteller and Reiki Therapist. Khuumba uses various textures to tell the stories of her art, such as, images printed on canvas, a technique Ms. Ama developed while experimenting with various materials to create her collages; sand and felting. Khuumba is currently the President of National Conference of Artists (NCA), New York Chapter. As a Teaching Artist, her classes are designed for elevating “Life Skills Through Art”. In September 2019, Khuumba received a Citation from the City Council of New York, for Outstanding Work in Community Service. 

Lisa Dubois – USA 

Lisa DuBois is a curator, visual artist and writer dedicated to exploring subcultures within the broader fabric of mainstream society. Her ethnographic photojournalism aims to enlighten and inspire viewers to consider other cultures in a deeper and meaningful way. Preserving and promoting awareness of cultural diversity, as revealed through ritual and performance, is at the center of her artistic mission. DuBois received a degree from the Germain School of Photography and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts. Her work has been exhibited nationally and in India, France and Greece. She has freelanced for Getty Images and The New York Daily News and has been recognized by The Guardian and New York Times for her tenure as curator of Harlem’s X Gallery. She’s currently Diversity Advisor and Photo Editor for Social Documentary Network. In 2023, Lisa received a BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Grant and a

grant from En Foco. 

Oyebimpe Babs-Fashola - Nigeria 

Oyebimpe Babs-Fashola is a Nigerian Visual Artist who believes in the healing power of art and colors. She loves to capture the aura of her muses and explore diverse traditional and digital art mediums such as pencils, charcoals, acrylics, oils, fabrics, threads, and scraps, to promote eco-friendly awareness and mental well-being using the act of chromotherapy. She is a Computer Science and Management BA graduate from the University of Ghana, and a Fashion Designer by profession who decided to follow her talent for art in 2020, during the Covid. The pandemic

helped ignite this passion to pursue the therapeutic nature of art which has brought succour to her mental health.

Philip “Muzi” Branch

Philip “Muzi” Branch, a Native of Richmond, Virginia, received both his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and his Master of Art Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He was hired as Director of the Cultural Programs Department at the VCU Medical Center in 2005. Prior to his employment at the Health System, he was an art instructor with the Richmond Public School System, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University and Saint Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, VA. He served as Assistant Director of the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology in Petersburg and Executive Director of Arts on the Square, in downtown Richmond. His award-winning paintings have been exhibited at The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, PANAFEST, Ghana, West Africa, The Banneker Douglass Museum, Annapolis, MD, The African American Museum, Dallas TX, The Ohio History Museum, Columbus OH and The Daura Gallery, Lynchburg VA. His work is included in the collections of SunTrust Bank, Richmond Community Hospital, Lynchburg College, and First Market Bank. While participating in the Virginia Commission for the Arts “Artists in Education" Program, he completed over 20 mural-painting residencies in public schools across the state of Virginia. Philip, also known as Muzi, is an accomplished bassist and songwriter. He performs with the internationally acclaimed musical group, Plunky and Oneness.

 Ross Browne – USA

and Photography at The Corcoran School of the Arts. He is also an alumnus of The Miller 

School of Albemarle, Charlottesville, Virginia. He has taught art and design for inner city 

and at-risk youth for the Fresh Air Fund of N.Y.C, Weed and Seed, Project Ready and Art 180 

of Richmond, VA. He was also an instructor for the Resident Associate Program at The 

Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. During his tenure as the Art Specialist for the VCU 

Health System, Ross practiced art therapy for and taught art to his various patients with an 

emphasis on pediatric hematology/oncology, infectious disease and brain injury patients. He is 

also an illustrator and graphic designer with a long and varied list of clientele. Ross continues to 

paint and write out of his studio in Richmond, Virginia. In a review of the exhibition Art Fusion in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Special Correspondent, CeCe Bullard wrote; "Browne, always 

intense and direct, explores the many faces of the American experience in a variety of media, 

each of which he uses effectively." S. Ross Browne is the recipient of numerous awards and 

honors, and has been featured in various local and national media. His work has been acquired 

by the internationally recognized Virginia Museum of Fine Art and is in the collection of 

international, national, and local institutions. 

ZENC – representing artists: 

Alberto Opoku - Ghana  

Alberto is from Ghana, West Africa. I was born in the Kumasi Ashanti Region of Ghana. I grew up as a young boy admiring nature, its impact on humans, and how nature positively influences humans. With this admiration, l began to put heart and humanity into Arts. Art that portrays nature and gives insight to various races of humans across all continents. I have therefore developed a passion for Arts and do it as a full-time artist. My dream is that the world will see my Artwork.  

Manian - Senegal  

Manian grew up in Dakar, Senegal with a grassroots solution. On Goree Island, a former slave forte, he was coach and mentor by trained sidewalk artists. He eventually crafts his own style of expression, painting from the soul. In his artistic process, he primarily employs chalk, pastels and oil on canvas or paper. He uses his unique 3D imaging to create some of the lines.  

ZENC Bean & Art Imports Ltd  

ZENC was born in 2019 during a visit to Senegal and Ghana. We met several talented artists who skillfully used colour to create beautiful paintings. Furthermore, it was a pleasure to observe trained artists coach and mentor raw budding talent to hone their artistic abilities. Our goal is not only to help these artists survive and feed their families but also an element to propagate their culture and heritage through art. West African art is a visual voice and vehicle that connects to the people's souls.