Jamaican-born artist Marcus Blake returns for Kingston exhibition and street art project

Jamaican-born multimedia artist Marcus Blake has returned to the island after more than 20 years overseas, using the visit to reconnect with his roots, present new work in Kingston and take part in a street art collaboration.

Blake, who appeared on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica, said creativity has long been central to how he processes feeling and experience. He said he began as a child by making things with his hands, pulling objects apart, rebuilding them and experimenting, before expanding into painting, poetry and film.

The artist said he now writes every day and released a poetry collection earlier this year titled Diary of a Time Traveler. He said even the simple act of waking can be enough to spark a poem, and that he wrote before leaving Miami about the emotion of coming back home.

Blake described his paintings as emotional reflections rather than images that must be decoded in one fixed way. Discussing two works on set, he said elements such as round eyes, black hair shapes and shoulders point back to himself, while the contrast between rigid and smoother styles reflects a personal duality. He also linked that contrast to being a Gemini.

He said imperfection is part of the humanity in the work, noting that he no longer tries to force everything into a flawless finish. His approach, he said, is guided by inspiration: if he has 20 colours available, he is likely to use all 20, beginning with the canvas and working until the piece feels complete.

Blake said nine of his pieces are currently at Trio with Sophia Max Brown, where they are scheduled to remain until the 29th. The works are available for purchase, and he estimated that one piece shown during the interview would cost about US$3,000.

He also said he is a street artist and will collaborate with Kingston Creative on Tuesday at Temple Lane and Harvey Street. Blake said the project will run from early in the day and involve him working with a ladder and spray paint.

Asked about his Jamaican ties, Blake said he would identify Kingston as home, while also noting family connections in St. Catherine. He said he had recently visited the house his mother left from at 18 Chosen Few Avenue.