COST:  Free

 
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

Over the Years: An Art Retrospective offers a rare and compelling look at the artistic evolution of Karl “Jerry” Craig, tracing a creative journey that spans decades, continents, and cultural influences. This exhibition brings together works from key periods of Craig’s career, revealing the development of his distinctive visual language and his enduring commitment to abstraction, symbolism, and color.

From early explorations rooted in formal training to later works infused with Caribbean memory, migration, and spiritual resonance, Craig’s art reflects a continual process of growth and refinement. Viewers will encounter shifting palettes, expanding textures, and increasingly confident symbolic forms that speak to identity, place, and lived experience. Each piece contributes to a larger narrative of transformation—both personal and artistic.

Celebrating a lifetime of creativity, Over the Years not only honors Craig’s legacy as a painter and educator, but also invites audiences to witness how time, culture, and curiosity shape an artist’s vision. The exhibition stands as a testament to artistic endurance and the power of visual storytelling across generations.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Karl “Jerry” Craig (born 1936, Jamaica) is a distinguished Jamaican-born painter, educator, and cultural advocate whose artistic career spans several decades and multiple continents. Renowned for his vibrant abstract symbolism and deep engagement with Caribbean visual culture, Craig’s work reflects a lifetime of creative exploration and educational leadership. Buru

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION - Craig was born in Jamaica in 1936 and demonstrated artistic promise early in life. To pursue formal art training, he moved to the United Kingdom where he studied at prominent institutions including Camberwell School of Art, Goldsmiths College, and the London School of Printing, culminating in a National Diploma in Design from St Martin’s School of Art in 1957. He later completed a Master of Fine Arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, USA. Buru

TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP IN ART EDUCATION - After his studies, Craig spent 14 years teaching art and textile design in England, working at secondary schools, teacher training colleges, and art schools. He served as a Senior Lecturer for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), contributing significantly to visual arts education during a period of pedagogical change. Buru

In 1972, Craig returned to Jamaica to lead the Jamaica School of Art (now part of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts). As Head of School for a decade, he oversaw major structural and curricular innovations, including the creation of departments in Fibre Arts, Jewelry, Art Education, History of Art, and Photography. Under his leadership, the institution became a major regional center for Caribbean arts education. Buru

Craig’s influence extended across the Caribbean through his work at the University of the West Indies Faculty of Arts and Education, where he served as Resident Art Adviser and Chief External Examiner. He contributed to the development of art education curricula in Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Guyana, and Curaçao, and played a central role in integrating visual art into the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) syllabus. Buru

ARTIST PRACTICE - As an artist, Craig is best known for his abstract and symbolically rich paintings. Moving beyond traditional realism early in his career, he developed a visual language characterized by vibrant, iridescent color and textured surfaces that evoke Caribbean landscapes, flora, and cultural iconographies. His work often engages with themes of memory, identity, and belonging, creating compositions that resonate both aesthetically and culturally. Buru

Craig’s artistic vocabulary reflects influences from Indigenous American, African, and Asian visual traditions, infusing his abstract forms with a global yet deeply Caribbean sensibility. Buru

EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITION - Over the years, Craig has exhibited widely in solo and group shows in Jamaica, the UK, and the United States. His work has been featured in notable exhibitions celebrating Caribbean art and heritage, including shows in South Florida, where he now lives and works in Fort Lauderdale. South Florida Caribbean News+1

Significant exhibitions include:

• Solo shows at venues such as the African American Research Library Gallery in Fort Lauderdale (e.g., From Whence We Came). South Florida Caribbean News

• Participation in regional exhibitions like Island SPACE Caribbean Museum events during South Florida Art Week. Jamaicans and Jamaica - Jamaicans.com

• Contributions to Caribbean cultural showcases such as the “Migration of the Sign” exhibition at the Ansin Family Art Gallery. South Florida Caribbean News

His work has also appeared in group exhibitions addressing issues of identity, migration, and the legacy of Caribbean visual culture. South Florida Caribbean News

LEGACY AND IMPACT - Craig’s impact extends beyond his canvases. As a teacher, mentor, and cultural ambassador, he shaped generations of Caribbean artists and helped professionalize art education throughout the region. His contributions to visual arts pedagogy and his influential leadership within educational institutions have left an enduring legacy. Buru

Today, Karl “Jerry” Craig remains an active figure in the arts, continuing to paint and exhibit while contributing to the rich cultural landscape of South Florida and beyond. 

Civic Center Art Gallery Hours of Operation:
Tuesday and Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm,
Wednesday and Thursday, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm,
Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

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