In Memory of Barrington Watson

In memory of Barrington Watson

1931-2016

For those who are familiar with contemporary fine art in Jamaica and the Caribbean, the name Barrington Watson should be well known.

  Watson, who died recently, was among the leading figures in the development of contemporary art in Jamaica’s post-independence era.  He studied art at the Royal College of Art in London from 1958-1960 and continued his studies of European masters at the Rijksakademie, Amsterdam and the Academia de las Bellas Artes in Madrid, as well as other major European art schools.

In 1962, Watson became the first director of the Jamaica School of Arts and Crafts where he spearheaded a new curriculum that enabled graduates to go beyond the conventional fine and applied arts to new areas of teaching, advertising and television.  Along with fellow painters Karl Parboosingh and Eugene Hyde, Watson formed the Contemporary Jamaican Artists Association in 1964. 

Possibly one of his outstanding contributions to contemporary Caribbean art is his leadership in raising the profile of fine artists to celebrity status, a feat he accomplished, among other things,  by establishing the prestigious Gallery Barrington in the 1970’s. 

The gallery was a catalyst for fine art galleries mushrooming across the region.  Over the years Watson was commissioned to paint several leading figures such as Queen Elizabeth, Julius Nyerere, Lindon D. Johnson, Malcolm X, Paul Robeson and Martin Luther King junior.

His long career and innumerable contributions to the development of art in Jamaica won him several accolades and national honors.

Barrington Watson will continue to be a household name within the Caribbean art community and beyond for a long time.

For more on Barrington Watson go to: www.barringtonwatson.com

Also visit our art gallery:  https://www.experiencejamaique.com/product_gallery

Updated June 2020