Bahamian
created and curated
Home of one of the largest collections of Bahamian art in The Bahamas, Baha Mar allows you to experience the creative energy of Bahamian culture through a carefully curated selection of thousands of paintings, sculptures and experimental installations of all shapes and sizes.
Stay
Current
Much more than a vast collection of contemporary art, The Current is a hub for compelling Bahamian artistic experiences. A center for recognizing and supporting a strong creative community through captivating exhibitions, workshops and lectures, artist residencies and partnerships with local collectors.
The Collection
The Baha Mar Collection is an exceptional selection of Bahamian art comprised of more than 2,500 pieces from variously talented local artists—all sharing a common unconditional love for The Bahamas. This impressive display is overseen by John Cox, a renowned mixed-media artist and former chief curator of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas.
Collection Highlights
This work by Dominic Cant, utilizes both photography and sculpture to depict an immersive environment that provides viewers with the sensation of being underwater—a reflective and dynamic experience taken directly from the Bahamian ocean.
A powerful combination of Bahamian and Asian culture, this piece by Jordanna Kelly unites Asian symbolism with the bright, vibrant colors of Junkanoo.
This massive work on wood by John Cox, radiates an energy that is active and alive, animating the space in which it exists. It is a large, contemporary piece that instantly captivates viewers and prepares them for their dynamic visit to Baha Mar.
Through highly-saturated colors and patterns, Max Taylor presents a room of dancing and singing individuals, celebrating our ability to spread love through creativity. Through music, we become one, our spirits are joined, and we rejoice.
Through a series of organic lines and shapes, this piece by Lynn Parotti, captures the movement of water and its interaction with sunlight—directly referencing the beauty of underwater Bahamian life.
Fairwind
EXHIBITION
Fairwind
EXHIBITION
The ideologies, beliefs and lifestyles that have shaped the culture of The Bahamas weave their way through this diverse display designed to inform, inspire and expose the soul of this unique archipelago nation.
Encompassing more than 100 years of Bahamian art, the exhibition utilizes paintings, photography, sculpture, artifacts and multimedia to communicate an authentic visual and auditory narrative.
Art Residency
At the heart of The Current’s programming is an unprecedented residency program for the Bahamas. Local and international artists have the opportunity to follow their artistic pursuits in our studio space, culminating in exhibitions, lectures and workshops designed to captivate and inform Baha Mar guests.
Programs
Get an authentic artistic experience as you learn new skills and techniques from local and global artists. Each workshop covers subjects such as: figure drawing, pottery, ceramics, photography, mixed media and local arts and crafts.
LEARN MOREJohn Cox
Once described by a Harvard critic as “an unsophisticated artist producing sophisticated art,” Cox is known for large format paintings, found object assemblages, collage and non-traditional printmaking. His work often references distant places and ideas, but is executed with familiar and ordinary materials.
Born in Nassau in 1973, Cox attended Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, where he received a BFA in Illustration (’95) and an MAT in Art Education (’96). Afterwards, he went on to teach in the Art Department at the College of the Bahamas for six years followed by four years working in Education at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.
Currently serving as Baha Mar’s Director of Art, Cox has exhibited and participated in exchanges in France, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, the United States and the Caribbean.
Jordanna Kelly
A native of The Bahamas, Kelly says her love for art comes from the 3 H’s—Head, Heart and Hand. Her well-crafted multi-media compositions and assemblages describe ephemeral floral and figurative patterns and imagery using unexpected—and often industrial—materials. The results are both delicate and assertive, providing interesting ideas while also striving to create emotional connections.
She was the first recipient of The Astarita Nassuvian Art Scholarship from the College of The Bahamas, where she graduated with the Top Distinction in Art.
In 2016, Kelly won the 33rd Annual Art Competition at The Central Bank of the Bahamas, being the only woman to win both the junior and senior categories.
Her work has been exhibited in the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, The Public Treasury, The Pro Gallery, The D’Aguilar Art Foundation, and The Central Bank of the Bahamas.
Natascha Vazquez
Vazquez has an MFA in Painting from The Savannah College of Art and Design and a BFA in Painting from Rollins College, Florida. Her work has been exhibited both internationally and domestically in the Bahamas, France, Georgia and Florida.
In 2016, Vazquez returned to Nassau, Bahamas, with hopes of bringing the skills and knowledge acquired abroad to the country she loves. She felt a strong desire to aid in the building of an appreciation for art and art history in the Bahamas, aiming to spread the love and passion she has for fine art. Vazquez completed an internship at The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, where she facilitated in developing scholarship writing on works in both their permanent collection and on temporary display.
Vazquez is currently the Programming Manager at The Current Studio & Gallery at Baha Mar. She also writes for The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.