Caribbean Fine Art Fair Heads to New York for Its First US Edition

After 17 years in the Caribbean, the art fair will bring more than 35 artists to Harlem from November 20 to 22, showcasing work from across the Caribbean and the wider diaspora.

The Caribbean Fine Art Fair (CaFA Fair) is heading to New York City for the first time, bringing together artists from across the Caribbean and its diaspora for a three-day event in Harlem.

Taking place from November 20 to 22, 2026, the inaugural Caribbean Fine Art Fair NYC will be held at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, also known as Ile Oyin, at 208 East 126th Street. According to the organisers, more than 35 artists representing 10 Caribbean nations, alongside artists from Ghana, Nigeria and the United States, will participate in the fair.

The New York edition marks a new chapter for an event that has spent 17 years building its presence in the Caribbean. Its expansion offers an opportunity to introduce a wider audience to artists whose practices reflect the region's varied histories, identities and cultural experiences.

Caribbean art takes centre stage

The participating artists work across a range of approaches, offering visitors different perspectives on Caribbean life, heritage and contemporary artistic practice.

Among them is Jamaican artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes, whose work draws on Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, including African spirituality and Christianity. Born in Jamaica, Hoyes has developed an international career, with work exhibited and collected across multiple countries.

Also representing Jamaica is Nicolle Blackwood, a graduate of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts whose work has featured in exhibitions across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Her practice extends into fashion through Nicolle Nish, the clothing line she directs in Kingston.

Barbadian artist Malique Shorey is another participant. Working across painting, sculpture and storytelling, Shorey explores ways for artworks to exist beyond traditional formats. His previous participation in the Barbados edition of CaFA Fair in 2019 helped bring his work to the attention of international collectors, particularly in the United States.

The wider roster includes Puerto Rican artist Diogenes Ballester, whose work explores oral history, memory, mythology, ritual and cultural identity, as well as Guyanese artist Carl F. Anderson, known for his geometric Ribbon Series and photorealistic paintings.

Together, these artists demonstrate the range of practices represented at the fair, from explorations of cultural memory and spirituality to approaches that engage with form, identity and storytelling.

A meeting point for Caribbean and African diasporas

The choice of Harlem as the venue adds another dimension to the event. With its long-standing connections to Black cultural life, the neighbourhood provides a setting for an exhibition bringing Caribbean artists into conversation with audiences and communities across the African diaspora.

The inclusion of artists from Ghana and Nigeria alongside Caribbean and US-based participants also broadens the fair's scope beyond national and regional boundaries. It creates an opportunity to encounter different artistic perspectives within a shared space, while recognising the distinct histories and experiences informing each practice.

For Caribbean artists, participation in international fairs can provide opportunities to reach new audiences, build relationships with collectors and connect with other parts of the art world. CaFA Fair's New York debut extends its existing platform into a major international city, where Caribbean art can be encountered alongside work from other cultural contexts.

The event also offers a chance for audiences in New York to engage with artists whose work may be less visible within the city's established gallery landscape.

Event details

The inaugural Caribbean Fine Art Fair NYC takes place from November 20 to 22, 2026 at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Ile Oyin, located at 208 East 126th Street, Harlem, New York.

For further information about participating artists, artwork and event updates, visit the official CaFA Fair website.