Albert Artwell (Jamaican, 1942-2018) was a self-taught painter. He began his career in the art scene with illustrating scenes from the Scriptures, typically implementing a touch of humour in well-known Biblical narratives.
These pieces progressed into symbolic paintings, inspired by visions he experienced of the prophets Abraham and Moses, visions that shaped his self-image as a shepherd of the Rastafari faith. Often using bold colours, the works are of flat and stacked compositions reminiscent of African and ancient art forms. Celebrated both locally and internationally, Artwell’s art has been exhibited globally and remains part of the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Jamaica.
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Some thirty eight years ago, my partner and I found ourselves wandering into a bright little gallery in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Among the rows of tropical landscapes and Rastafarian portraits, one painting stopped us cold: a luminous scene by Albert Artwell, its simple figures and bold, joyful colours alive with a childlike wonder. His naïve style—so clear and concise, yet rich with echoes of ancient Egyptian and African art—felt like a secret language we were only just beginning to understand. We learned that Artwell, born to farming parents in Catadupa, had risen to prominence as one of the founders of Jamaica’s Intuitive Art Movement.
His visionary compositions wove religious symbolism and modern life into a tapestry of hope and faith. In that gallery, his work spoke to us of resilience and community—qualities we carried home in our hearts along with the watercolour-and-ink piece we bought that day.
For decades, that painting hung in our living room, greeting us each morning with its vibrant figures and gentle humour. It witnessed birthday candles and quiet Sunday breakfasts, always reminding us of warm Jamaican breezes and the kindness of strangers who shared their culture through art. Now, as our walls fill with new memories, it feels right to pass this treasure on. May it bring you the same light, the same sense of connection, and the same joy that Artwell’s art has given us for all these years.
(Photographed in April 2025)