Publisher's Synopsis
The first complete monograph devoted to the Caribbean artist whose work combines powerful visual storytelling with a deep exploration of social, political and cultural themes.
Che Lovelace (b. 1969, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) lives and works in his lifelong home of Trinidad. He holds a degree from l'École Régionale des Beaux-Arts de la Martinique and currently lectures at the University of the West Indies Creative Arts Campus. Rooted in the rural outskirts of Port of Spain, Lovelace considers Trinidad his ultimate subject. The flora, fauna and figures of island life are ever-present in his tropical vistas, painted on board panels split into quadrants. Lovelace's vibrant, energetic compositions present a nuanced exploration of postcolonial identity, grounded in a deep commitment to the Caribbean landscape and its community.
Lovelace's art is a metaphorical journey through themes of resistance, freedom, mythology, and nature, intertwined with his personal sense of place and politics. His latest solo exhibitions include Day Always Comes at Corvi Mora (2023), Bathers at Nicola Vassell Gallery, New York (2023), and Nighscapes with Palms and Egrets at Various Small Fires, Dallas (2023), among others. His work is in prestigious collections such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, and the Aïshti Foundation. Lovelace's paintings are unapologetically Caribbean, capturing the island's rich iconography with energy and complexity, while exploring the intersection of culture, community, and identity.