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February is packed with opportunities for Caribbean artists seeking residencies, funding and international exposure. Here’s a roundup of residencies, grants and open calls with approaching deadlines. Residencies and Internships Sloss Metal Furnaces Emerging Artist Residency + Internship (International) A three-week residency in Birmingham, Alabama, providing studio access, materials, sand, iron, and technical foundry skills for emerging artists. Includes a living stipend. D

Naderson Saint-Pierre paints faces that resist a single point of view. Eyes overlap, profiles shift, colours collide. His portraits insist on multiplicity, suggesting that identity is never singular, never fixed, and never fully revealed in one moment. Working primarily in portraiture, Saint-Pierre uses fragmentation as both a visual strategy and a conceptual position. His subjects appear assembled rather than rendered, as though identity itself is shaped through memory, move

Carnival is often reduced to costumes, colour and spectacle. For Weldon Ryan , it is lived culture, movement, presence and community rendered on canvas. Born in Trinidad and Tobago , Ryan translates the energy of Caribbean Carnival into large-scale paintings that capture both the pageantry and the people behind it. Ryan photographs masqueraders at carnivals across the Caribbean diaspora and uses these encounters as reference for his paintings. His compositions are tight, imme

In cities from San Juan to Barcelona, Puerto Rican artist Ekosaurio transforms walls into vibrant ecosystems. His murals pulse with plant life and bold colour bringing the energy of Caribbean landscapes into urban spaces across the globe. Rather than depicting nature as scenery, Ekosaurio treats it as a living language. His work does not aim for realism, instead, it relates the energy of Caribbean landscapes, their beauty, vibrancy and growth, into compositions that feel play

The future of Caribbean art is shaped less by what is celebrated in the moment and more by the questions we choose to ask today. These are questions about labour, access, visibility, sustainability and trust. They are often left unspoken, yet they will determine the ecosystem for years to come. Who is included and who is left out? Caribbean art is sometimes presented as a single story, yet the region is made up of multiple histories, languages and experiences. Which artists a

David creates artworks that explore internet culture, irony, and everyday life. Sometimes, all at once. Working primarily through digital processes, his practice combines humor, observation, and familiar cultural references to evoke moments of joy, even in the unexpected. David Sykes was born in Kingston, Jamaica, "in the 19th century," as he jokingly says. From a young age, he was drawn to art, inspired not by museums or galleries, but by the imagination of his cousin, Camek

Where the work is made matters. For Guadeloupean-born artist Kelly Sinnapah Mary, the environment of her studio is inseparable from her practice. “If my studio were elsewhere, my practice would be very different. When I walk into my studio, I hear the crowing of roosters. I feel the sun. I hear my son playing with his cousins.” Her work is rooted in Guadeloupe, shaped by place, daily life and lineage , and engages with a continuous unlearning of colonial worldviews. Through

As the new year begins, Caribbean artists and creatives have urgent opportunities to expand their practice, connect with international networks, access funding, and deepen their craft. Below is a curated guide to open calls, residencies, grants, and creative support programmes, some of which are closing soon in January 2026, from both regional and global institutions. Exhibitions – Show Your Work Royal Society of British Artists | Annual Exhibition 2026 Deadline: January 9

As the Caribbean steps into 2026, artists, creatives, and cultural practitioners have new opportunities to deepen their practice, connect with global networks, and showcase the region’s rich artistic voices. The start of a new year is always a moment for reflection, gratitude, and intention, qualities that resonate strongly within the Caribbean art community. Over the past year, Caribbean artists have continued to navigate challenges, explore interdisciplinary approaches, and

As 2025 comes to a close, we look back at what the Caribbean art world gave us. There was no single defining moment or clear turning point. What the year did give us was movement, activity, connection and continuation. The work kept happening, even when attention and support shifted elsewhere. This movement showed up in exhibitions, online spaces, residencies, regional events and collaborations across countries and territories. Artists continued to work with purpose, often wi

Guyanese-born Ingrid Pollard is a pioneering photographer and media artist whose work has long challenged cultural assumptions about race, identity, and belonging. Born in 1953 in Georgetown, Guyana, and raised in London, Pollard has consistently questioned who is permitted to feel at home within British landscapes, particularly its rural spaces. Her practice centres on visibility, memory, and the quiet politics of place. As a founding member of the Association of Black Photo

Buying art matters. It sustains artists directly, affirms the value of their labour and allows many to continue their practice. For those who are able to buy, it remains one of the most meaningful forms of support. However, not everyone has the financial means to collect art. Limiting support to purchasing alone risks excluding large parts of the community and narrowing how we understand care for culture. Caribalent exists because we believe Caribbean culture is not a commodi

In a global creative economy still negotiating whose stories are valued, resourced and sustained, Daveed Baptiste’s recent recognition by the CFDA marks a shift in how cultural authorship is being acknowledged and invested in. This is not simply a personal milestone. It is a statement about the growing recognition of diasporic voices as vital cultural and economic forces. Baptiste’s work has long resisted spectacle in favour of substance. Drawing from Caribbean heritage, migr

As the year draws to a close, several grant opportunities remain open for Caribbean and international creatives, offering critical financial support across different stages of artistic practice. From emergency relief to unrestricted project funding, these programmes respond to both immediate needs and long term creative development. Creatives are encouraged to review the details carefully and apply ahead of the upcoming deadlines. Creative Resilience Fund Grant Deadline: Dece

Art Basel 2025 once again highlighted the growing presence of Caribbean and diaspora artists within global art conversations. What was once a quiet emergence has developed into a clear and confident contribution that continues to influence how the international art world thinks about identity, memory, landscape and cultural continuity. Throughout the fair, Caribbean talent stood out both in regional presentations and within major international programmes, where artists with l

Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer , has generated a lively debate online. Described by the company as a calming, billowy white imbued with serenity, the colour was intended to inspire reflection, creativity and renewal. However, some members of the public and creative community have questioned whether the choice is timely, meaningful or even a true colour. On social media, critics have argued that Pantone’s description stretches the definition of colour, labelli

Jamaican visual artist Natasha Cunningham is among the voices shaping Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer , bringing Caribbean creativity to the international stage. The feature highlights her reflections on creative reset and the role of calm and focus in her work, values that resonate strongly both in her artistic journey and the shade itself. Natasha’s artistic journey is a blend of formal training, professional experience and a fearless embrace of digital med

The Caribbean is lighting up Miami Art Week once again. From bold visuals to boundary pushing voices, artists from across the region and its diaspora are bringing vivid colour, sharp commentary and unmistakable island energy to two of the week’s most anticipated fairs: Scope Art Fair and Untitled Art Fair. Visitors can catch it all live through December 7. Caribbean Presence at Scope Art Fair Inside Scope, Jamaican born and United States based artist O’neil Scott brings strik

Today marks the closing of Festival Color Caribe in Puerto Rico, a vibrant celebration that has, for five years, brought together artists, communities and colour in a shared expression of Caribbean creativity. Mural "Love Offense", 2025 by Luis “ Güillo ” Cruz Martes This year’s festival continued the tradition of transforming public spaces into dynamic canvases, showcasing murals that capture the spirit, history, and future of the Caribbean. From this year’s installations to

Jimmy Cliff is more than a legend. He is a force whose music, spirit and vision have shaped Jamaica, the Caribbean and inspired generations around the world. Born in Jamaica in 1948, Cliff rose from humble beginnings to become one of reggae’s most influential voices, bringing the sounds and stories of his homeland to global audiences. From the vibrant rhythms of reggae to his powerful messages of resilience, hope and social justice, Cliff’s influence transcends borders, remin