An artful Christmas from Olympia Gallery
Part proceeds of new exhibition to go towards hurricane relief efforts
Published:Thursday | December 11, 2025 | 12:15 AMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
Olympia Gallery, at 202 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, is one of Jamaica’s best-known art spaces, with works always on sale. The gallery is housed in a distinctive building designed by Jamaican engineer, builder, art patron and artist A.D. Scott. It regularly hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
Paintings give the space a festive aura and, this season, it may be the place to find a made-in-Jamaica gift. Olympia Gallery last week opened Curators’ Eye, “a dynamic exhibition that extends A.D. Scott’s original vision of Olympia as a vital cultural institution in Jamaica” .
“Building on the legacy of landmark exhibitions, such as the National Gallery of Jamaica’s Young Talent and the earlier Curator’s Eye series, this new edition provides a contemporary platform for Jamaican artists to showcase their work, engage with audiences, and connect with collectors,” curator Kevarney K.R. said.
Featuring a diverse group of emerging and mid-career artists, the exhibition brings multiple voices into dialogue across media, techniques and conceptual strategies. Themes shaping Jamaica’s artistic zeitgeist – including identity, postcoloniality and the human condition – are explored through painting, photography, fibre and textile, mixed media and digital works.
“The curatorial approach embraces exhibition design as a narrative tool, creating meaning through the juxtaposition of distinct yet interconnected artworks. This spatial dialogue reflects the complexity of Jamaica’s post-colonial cultural landscape, revealing both shared concerns and unique artistic perspectives,” Kevarney K.R. noted.
“Honouring the foundations of Jamaica’s modern art history, A.D. Scott’s legacy, the work of the Contemporary Jamaica Artists’ Association, and landmark national exhibitions, Curators’ Eye, also looks forward. It champions a new generation of collectible artists redefining Jamaican visual culture, and invites audiences and collectors to engage with the vibrant, continually evolving language of contemporary Jamaican art.”
Artists on show include Garfield Morgan, Christopher Harris, Dwayne Grant, Taj Francis, Richard Nattoo, Zorhia Allen, Shediene Fletcher, Isabel-Marie Thwaites, Kyle Gooden, Sonn Ngai, Kokab-Zohoori Dossa, Janice Reid, Atira Robinson, Akeem Johnson, Chinelle Miller, Gerald Gordon, Justeen Bailey, Kimberley Jones, Kobi B. Bailey, Madison Addington, Patrick Waldemar, Rasleigh Morris and Suzanna Missenberger.
In light of the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, Olympia Gallery indicated that a portion of the proceeds from all art sales in this exhibition will be directed towards Hurricane Melissa relief initiatives, benefiting the communities most severely impacted.
“We stand in solidarity with everyone affected and continue to pray for swift relief, recovery and rebuilding across Jamaica.”