THE MICHAEL CAMPBELL ART COLLECTION
Described as “philanthropy at its best” the Michael Campbell Art Collection (MCAC), comprising 261 works of art by 67 artists was recently donated to the University of the West Indies. We were delighted to participate in the staging of the handing over ceremony, mounting a temporary exhibition of a selection of over thirty paintings at the UWI campus. The Michael Art Campbell Collection is impressive and chronicles the Jamaican art movement from the 1940s up to the present time. Works include the pioneers, including John Dunkley, Kapo, Albert Huie, Carl Abrahams, Karl Parboosingh, Osmond Watson and Barry Watson among many others. The earliest work dates from 1944 by Albert Huie; and the largest work, at over 6ft high, is by Colin Garland.
A well-known businessman and art patron, Campbell died in September 2023 and he chose the UWI Mona to be the repository of his collection deeming it as the best place to host, value, keep and preserve the works. There is currently no exhibition space at the University to show the Collection in its entirety, but the vision is to build a museum/gallery to be a permanent home where the works can be shown and enjoyed by students and visitors.
Viewing the exhibition (left to right) Rosie Thwaites, Olympia Gallery; Art intern, Rivaldo Henry; Dr. Hilary Hickling, Lecturer/Mona School of Business Management; Art intern, Danique Mendez; Dr. Olivene Burke, Executive Director/Mona Social Services & Project Lead for MCAC; and Margaret Bernal,Trustee, who conducted the tour of the Exhibition.
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