National Gallery of Jamaica

The superlative collection of Jamaican art housed by the National Gallery is quite simply the finest on the island and should on no account be missed. In addition to offering an intrinsically Jamaican take on international artistic trends, the collection attests to the vitality of the country’s artistic heritage as well as its present. The core of the permanent collection is presented on the 1st floor in 10 galleries representing the Jamaican School, organized chronologically spanning the years 1922 to the present. The first rooms are mainly devoted to the sculptures of Edna Manley and the spectacularly vibrant ‘intuitive’ paintings, notably the dark landscapes of John Dunkley, the poignant portraiture of Albert Huie and the village life scenes of David Pottinger. Later galleries chart the course of ‘Jamaican art for Jamaicans’ up to the recent past, including abstract religious works by Carl Abrahams, decidedly surrealist exercises by Colin Garland, ethereal assemblages by David Boxer, Barrington Watson’s realist forays and many other works that animate various aspects of Jamaica’s national culture. Elsewhere, the various collections and the presentation spaces of the gallery include the AD Scott Collection of Jamaican art, the Cecil Baugh gallery of ceramics, the Edna Manley Memorial Collection, and the imminently enjoyable Larry Wirth Collection, a unique and cohesive assemblage of works by visionary artist, revivalist bishop and community leader Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds. Excellent guided tours (reservations 922-1561; admission US$13) are offered, providing illuminating background to the works on show; advance reservations are suggested. An annual National Exhibition is held from December through to spring as a showcase for the best of recent Jamaican art.