Cydne Jasmin Coleby

Born in 1993, Nassau, BS
Lives and works in Nassau, BS

Cydne Jasmin Coleby draws inspiration from old family photographs and memories of the past. But also from her own face. Through her self-portraits, she blends textures and patterns, creating compositions that reflect both her duality and multiplicity, much like collages.

Born in the Bahamas and deeply influenced by her Caribbean identity, she studied graphic design, which allowed her to develop a strong command of colors. She constantly plays with her “tropical palette,” inspired by the bright and fluorescent hues of the Junkanoo festival, its vibrant parades, and dazzling costumes.

However, beyond postcard-perfect images and exotic clichés, her work explores the realities of a postcolonial society: a fragile economy, financial struggles, a youth dreaming of a better future, and the impacts of global warming. Nature, omnipresent in her paintings through depictions of trees or fruits, symbolizes the deep, visceral connection she feels to her homeland—her primary source of inspiration.

Cydne Jasmin Coleby (born in 1993, lives and works in Nassau, BS) studied at the College of the Bahamas. Her work has recently been the subject of solo exhibitions at TERN Gallery (Nassau, BS) and Unit London (London, UK). Her pieces have been featured in group exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art of the Bahamas (Nassau, BS), the Kansas City Art Institute (Kansas City, MO), the Museum of King Manor (New York, NY, US), and the Asian Art Center (Taipei, TW). Her work has also been showcased at major international art fairs, including Expo Chicago (Chicago, IL, US), Untitled Art Fair (Miami Beach, FL, US), and the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (London, UK). In 2024, Cydne Jasmin Coleby was selected as an artist-in-residence at Four World Trade Center (New York, NY, US).