In Mother Caribbean, St Kitts and Nevis artist Sasha Herbert transforms portraiture into a celebration of regional heritage. At first glance, the painting captures the intimate gaze of its subject, but the viewer’s eye is drawn upward to the headwrap, a vibrant blue crown that unfurls into a map of the Caribbean islands and seas.
Painted in acrylic on ply, the work exudes both strength and tenderness. The subject’s skin is rendered with meticulous care, while the fabric of her headwrap pulses with geography, turning the familiar into something at once personal and universal. Herbert’s combination of portraiture and cartography invites a reimagining of identity, highlighting the deep connections that bind the Caribbean together.
Mother Caribbean speaks to belonging, resilience, and pride. Through her art, Herbert not only honours the region’s rich cultural tapestry but also encourages viewers to see themselves within it in new and meaningful ways.
