The National Gallery Launches the 4th Cayman Islands Biennial: Archipelago
| Since the opening on 2 October 2025, visitors to the National Gallery’s 4th Cayman Islands Biennial have been able to experience an intriguing blend of contemporary art at six host venues across all three Islands. Foregrounding the unprecedented upheavals and accelerated pace of change that have characterised the Caymanian experience in recent years, Archipelago explores the unique intersection of individual and collective roles in shaping the current moment – just as an archipelago can be viewed as both a single conglomerate entity and as hundreds of distinct islands with individual shores. Recognising the pressing need for open and constructive dialogue, this exhibition is a nexus for the open exchange of critical ideas, personal reflection, and imaginative possibilities. Featuring 76 artworks by 60 artists/collectives, this fourth edition is the most ambitious biennial to date, and the first to invite curators from outside the region. Across six venues, coded with each site’s colour on the biennial logo, and across three subthemes, with artworks’ labels marked by the iconic Biennial patterns, the exhibition invites viewers to consider how the artists’ visions on key social issues resonate at personal, national, and international registers—and on the relationship between those spheres. This year’s venues include the National Gallery, National Museum, Little Cayman Museum, Cayman Brac Heritage House, Mission House in Bodden Town, and Gram Bella’s in North Side. The exhibition is co-curated by Davin K. Ebanks and Joseph L. Underwood, and remains on view until 18 February 2026. The show is accompanied by a varied and dynamic programme of events. For more information on how to visit the biennial and details of the accompanying calendar of events, visit the What’s On section and exhibition page on our website. A sincere thank you to Butterfield, our Biennial Sponsors, for making Archipelago and our associated programming possible.  What’s On: Exhibitions & Collections  TimeBack: Travelling Exhibitions and Virtual Tour As part of the National Gallery’s satellite exhibitions programme, TimeBack is being presented at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort, following a highly successful exhibition in Grand Cayman, and having previously travelled to Little Cayman. In addition to accessing hundreds of photographs from TimeBack via the project’s website, you can also now view a 360-degree virtual tour of the exhibition on the National Gallery’s website, alongside select highlights from the more than 330,000 photographs that are featured in the wider archive: https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/whats-on/exhibitions/timeback/ TimeBack is open at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort now until May 2026.  Call for Members Support: Visiting Biennial Team AccommodationThe National Gallery is seeking in-kind support to house our visiting Biennial project team. If you own or manage a rental space with availability from 5th to 26th January, and would be open to welcoming our team, please reach out to us at [email protected]  What’s On: Education Lunchtime Tours Wednesdays, 12:30pm-1:30pm Take an art break at the National Gallery with our free series of lunchtime tours. Curators will guide you through the 4th Cayman Islands Biennial exhibition, Archipelago, every Wednesday from through 11 February (excluding holidays). No bookings required .Family Fun Day 8 November, 10:00am – 1:00pm Visit the Gallery with little ones at this free family day. Enjoy in-gallery activity sheets that support engagement with Archipelago, guided studio workshops inspired by exhibition themes and artworks, and pop-up outdoor art stations. Contact [email protected] for more information.  Biennial Bus Tour5 November, 9:30am – 2:30pmHop on a chartered coach bus to each of the four Archipelago venues on Grand Cayman: The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands National Museum, the Mission House and Gram Bella’s. View the Biennial exhibition at each location, meet with host venue staff, and enjoy light refreshments. A Gallery representative will be on the bus with you throughout the tour to answer questions and share more about the 4th Cayman Islands Biennial and its featured artists and locations. *Tour departs from and returns to the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. $35 KYD per person. Register here. Contact [email protected] for any questions.  Art & Wellness Meditation18 November Take a deep breath at this relaxing meditation event hosted inside the National Gallery’s Exhibition Hall. Save the date and check out our website for details on class time and instructor coming soon!  Poetry Open Mic Night27 November, 6:30pm – 8:30pmPoets share new and existing work inspired by Archipelago and cultural topics at this casual gathering. Guests are encouraged to share their own poetry, spoken word or acoustic/acapella music during the open mic portion.Interested in performing? Contact [email protected] or 345-945-8111  Joanna Humphries: take only memories and leave only footprints 29 November, 9:30am at Mary’s Bay, Little Cayman Archipelago participating artist Joanna Humphries invites the public to collaborate on an intuitive performance piece entitled take only memories and leave only footprints. Arranged on both Little Cayman and Grand Cayman, Humphries will lead the group through the act of environmental art-making, moving across coasts to create a piece of found-object work by the ocean. The group’s final work will be captured on camera and uploaded to the virtual exhibition via QR code.To participate in the performance in either Little Cayman or Grand Cayman, contact [email protected]. Holidays at the National Gallery  Members Holiday Event11 December, 5:30pm – 8:00pm Join us at the National Gallery on 11 December for this holiday open house event! Complete your holiday shopping at the NGCI Store which is stocked with lots of great holiday gift giving ideas. This is also a great opportunity to gift a membership to your friends and family. Mark your calendars for this much anticipated annual event to view the National Gallery exhibitions, enjoy holiday refreshments and share plenty of festive cheer!  NGCI Store Highlight: Martlet Design (John Bird) Beautiful, locally crafted, custom-made charcuterie boards, chopping boards and bowls –available now at the NGCI Store! Each piece is made from local Cayman woods and is a perfect addition to your home décor.Made by Martlet design, Cayman Islands’ leading custom furniture and cabinet making shop, led by award-winning designer John Bird. Instagram: @martletdesign  Sponsor Highlight  We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Butterfield for their generous sponsorship of the 4th Cayman Islands Biennial Exhibition and Programming. Over the years, Butterfield has been a long-standing supporter of a significant amount of National Gallery initiatives, and their continued partnership has been instrumental in supporting our mission to promote the appreciation and practice of visual arts in the Cayman Islands. Butterfield’s sponsorship for the Archipelago project has enabled this to be the most ambitious Cayman Islands Biennial to date. On behalf of the NGCI team, we extend our sincere thanks to Butterfield for making this possible.   Support Us  |
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