Five visual artists showcased pieces of their work at the private viewing of the Worlds Collide Art Show last Wednesday night at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The pieces, which are all inspired by various emotions, were well received by artisans and fans alike, who came out to support the artists.

Model and former beauty pageant aspirant Sara Dee Palmer, who displayed two pieces,
Auric Shores and Blooming Reverie, says her work is inspired by her love of nature.

“I just wanted to give my representation of the ocean, so I ventured into finding different ways and textures. It’s just representative of the ocean,” Palmer told the Jamaica Observer.

Her interest in art began in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was going through some downtime, and I needed to release. I got a dream, and from there I just started painting. This is one of my businesses and I have the support of family and friends,” Palmer shared.

Gabrielle Murdock, who studied art in high school, has been in the profession for close to seven years.

“I decided to take art seriously after high school, but I was a bit discouraged. In Jamaica, they don’t encourage you to do art as a profession,” said Murdock, who has had her work showcased at hot spots such as The Haven and Reggae Mill Bar.

“My work is inspired mostly by the female body, but I also dabble into the male form. I mostly paint humans how I see them and convey certain emotions,” Murdock shared.

One of her pieces on display, In the Moonlight, she said, was inspired by a film.

“I wanted to show a softer side of masculinity,” Murdock disclosed.

Trinidadian Marie-Ange Pollonais, who told the Observer she studied art and design at the University of Tampa, has been an artist for over eight years.

She took a leap of faith and threw in the towel at her day job to follow her passion for the arts.

“I love what I’m doing. Sometimes I wonder if this is a reality, because when I started doing art no one thought it would get anywhere. But now the support has been really good. A lot of people have shown interest in my pieces and the feedback has been wonderful,” said Pollonais.

Two of her pieces on display featured the colour blue.

“As an artist, I have seasons, and this year it’s blue. Being from Trinidad and Tobago, and an island girl, I’ve been wanting to root back into that, and the colour blue has been giving me that sense of home when I’m away,” Pollonais stated.

Jamaican Kedar Davis describes himself as a digital artist.

“I love things that make people talk. I wanted to represent gender in a very abstract and unique way. Most of my pieces are abstract and they focus on black men and women,” Davis shared.

One of his pieces, Starlit Guardian, he said was about the concept of law and mentalism.

“I love art and I’m an art enthusiast. I also like to enjoy different cultures,” the former Ardenne High School student shared.

He continued: “Art is one of those endless concepts; it was the perfect medium for me to express myself.”

Organiser of the event, recording artiste and artist Stefan Amali, of Hi Esteem, says in recent years, art has been receiving support from corporate Jamaica.

“This is our third staging of the event and the first time that we are doing a private viewing. I have to say thanks to the Jamaica Pegasus for providing the space, thanks to CranWata, Hyundai, and CPJ. I am happy that lots of people are coming on board and supporting the vision of art in Jamaica,” said Amali.

His very own painting, Psychedelics, was a hit with specially invited guests.

“It’s a very interesting piece. I’m an abstract expressionist and emotions inspire what I do,” he said.

“In Jamaica we have a very myopic concept of what emotion intelligence should be for a man, and I think art can break some of those stereotypes. My work is inspired by the obsession to express,” Amali reasoned.

He received a scholarship to study art in Savannah, Georgia, USA, a few years ago, and says art can be used as a source of encouragement.

“Art can be a viable tool. If you want to encourage young men in Jamaica, there are so many viable ways to obtain upward social mobility.”