Bahamian & Caribbean Artists Shine at Miami Art Week 2024

Miami Art Week is once again drawing the global art community to the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, from December 2-8, 2024. With over 20 international art fairs and hundreds of galleries showcasing thousands of artists, this annual event provides a platform for both emerging and established talents to exhibit their work. Among the prominent participants this year are Bahamian and Caribbean artists, whose contributions highlight the rich cultural tapestry and diverse creative practices from the region. Notably, two major events during Miami Art Week—SCOPE Miami Beach and Untitled Art Miami—feature exciting exhibitions by these artists, marking another significant moment for Caribbean art on the international stage.

FUZE Caribbean Art Fair x SCOPE Miami Beach: The Blue Floor Project

One of the highlights of Miami Art Week 2024 is the collaboration between FUZE Caribbean Art Fair and SCOPE Miami Beach. This year, the two have launched The Blue Floor Project, an ongoing initiative that aims to foster dialogue, opportunity, and community within the Caribbean creative sphere. The project’s goal is to curate timely, relevant works that explore collective experiences, identities, and disciplines from across the Caribbean region.

From December 3-8, The Blue Floor Project will take over SCOPE’s main pavilion with the exhibition God of the Soil. The exhibition features works by 2024 FUZE Art Fair artists, including prominent Bahamian talents Antonius Roberts, Blue Curry, Heino Schmid, and Jason Bennett, alongside artists from other Caribbean nations such as Alanis Forde (Barbados), David Gumbs (Martinique), Deborah Jack (St. Maarten), and Marlon Griffith (Trinidad & Tobago).

This exhibition tackles the complex relationship between "place and time" in Caribbean art. It reflects on self-determined governance, identity, and the evolving landscapes of the Caribbean diaspora. The participating artists explore how place—whether rooted in their homeland or carried through the diaspora—shapes their understanding of culture and identity. Together, they form a space of discovery and shared experiences, giving voice to the concept of “gods of the soil,” navigating the multiple terrains of identity, memory, and community.

The Blue Floor Project will span a 1,400 square-foot space within the main pavilion at SCOPE, featuring a lounge area designed to enhance interaction with the vibrant, contemporary works on display. It offers visitors a chance to engage deeply with the Caribbean’s rich cultural heritage, while exploring contemporary issues through powerful, evocative art.

Gio Swaby at SCOPE: Together We Bloom 4

In addition to the Blue Floor Project, Bahamian artist Gio Swaby is also featured at SCOPE Miami Beach 2024, presenting her series Together We Bloom 4. Swaby’s work is an exploration and celebration of Blackness and womanhood, focusing on Black joy as a radical act of resistance. According to SCOPE’s Instagram page, Swaby's art centers on “the philosophy of love as liberation” and seeks to create space for both strength and softness to coexist.

Swaby’s pieces empower and uplift, providing an important narrative on healing, joy, and the transformative power of self-love. Her participation in Miami Art Week reflects the growing recognition of her work and its resonant impact, particularly in conversations around race, gender, and the body in contemporary art.

For more information on the full lineup of artists featured at SCOPE, visit SCOPE Art.

TERN Gallery at Untitled Art Miami: A Caribbean Presence

Another key showcase of Bahamian and Caribbean talent is the TERN Gallery’s exhibition at Untitled Art Miami. The gallery, known for its focus on contemporary Caribbean art, will represent Bahamian artists Heino Schmid and Tessa Whitehead, alongside Leasho Johnson of Jamaica.

Schmid’s work explores visual deconstruction and cultural analysis, while Whitehead’s practice is rooted in the exploration of matriarchal identification, alienation, and marriage. Johnson is known for his pieces that explore culture and identity. Together, these artists represent a dynamic and multifaceted vision of contemporary Caribbean art.

You can find the TERN Gallery’s booth (B31) at Untitled Art Miami, where these artists will showcase their latest works, providing an engaging look at the diverse expressions coming out of the Caribbean region today.

For more information on Untitled Art and the full lineup of featured artists, visit Untitled Art Fairs.

For more information on Miami Art Week and to explore the full list of events, visit Miami Art Week.