Based in Nassau, Bahamas, Mestre Projects alighted on the art scene in 2017, helmed by Jose Mestre following years spent in New York City. Championing Bahamian and Caribbean artists and bringing international art to the local region, Mestre Projects maintains a foundation based on close working relationships with artists it has shown, which goes beyond simply the production of exhibitions but also towards cultivating their career trajectories.

While the 2024 season is coming to a close, looking back, Mestre Projects’ exhibitions over the past year speak to the gallery’s rigorous approach to its program. A series of in-depth solo shows showcased the ongoing practices of several rising and established artists, including “Matthew David Rahming: Wings of a Dove,” “Jorge R. Pombo: Light Beyond the Object,” “Amaani Hepburn: In the Sway of the Wind,” and “Kassou Seydou: Between the Two.”

Installation view of “Stan Burnside: Blacks and the Blues” (2024–25). Courtesy of Mestre Projects, Nassau.

And rounding out the year, Mestre Projects recently debuted their final exhibition, “Blacks and the Blues,” a solo show dedicated to the work of Bahamian artist Stan Burnside. On view through February 15, 2025, the show features a range of new paintings that reference themes of Surrealism, portraiture, and the artist’s African heritage, including patterned motifs and symbols like masks. Burnside is one of the most influential Bahamian artists working today, recognized for his singular style that favors subtle, tonal color palettes and nuanced engagement with Bahamian culture.

Stan Burnside, Enchanted Garden (2024). Courtesy of Mestre Projects, Nassau.

The “Blacks and the Blues” series (2024) in many ways operates as a counterpart to the artist’s 2022 series “Quarantino’s Lullaby.” Throughout each, Burnside delves into and reassesses Bahamian culture in juxtaposition with lived reality—and how they are impacted both by the local and international developments. Tapping everything from music and world history to gender inequalities and societal hegemony, Burnside’s quiet vignettes offer poetic reflections on the intricacies of contemporary existence.

The gallery will present Burnside’s work again at the art fair Art SG in Singapore, which runs from January 16–19, 2025.

José Capaz, Atraxia (2020). Courtesy of Mestre Projects, Nassau.

Turning to the new year, Mestre Projects has recently announced the following exhibition slated to open in March, a solo show dedicated to the work of Cuban artist José Capaz. Capaz’s mesmeric paintings focus on the psychological and emotional aspects of lived experience, which he translates into semi-abstract compositions that elude easy reading. In Capaz’s recent work, scenes from outer space work as metaphors for these lines of inquiry.

Together, the gallery’s 2024 and early 2025 projects reflect its ongoing commitment to platforming leading local and regional artists.

Explore more of the Mestre Projects program here.