About
Tina Spiro
Tina Spiro, B.Sc., MFA, is a Jamaican/American artist born in New York who maintains studios in Jamaica and Miami. Her career in art spans five decades exhibiting in museums, galleries, and biennials internationally. Her art is dedicated to environmental and humanitarian issues, embracing a combination of technical and conceptual practices: classical painting, Minimalist sculpture inspired by her mentor sculptor David Smith, and pop elements derived from her friend Andy Warhol. She has also had a distinguished career as an art historian in the field of Caribbean Art, curator of large-scale exhibitions (Omniart I, II, and II for the City of Miami for Art Basel), and educator in art history and studio art. In 2002 she established the MiART Foundation in Miami, producing large-scale art events and public projects dedicated to environmental and humanitarian issues. She also serves as a Director of the Board of Management of the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Facebook: Tina Matkovic Spiro
https://artistsandclimatechange.com/2019/08/07/fifty-years-of-creating-climate-conscious-art/
Tina Spiro: Making Waves in Miami & Jamaica
Tina Spiro: Artist’s Statement
From an early age my artwork has been dedicated to nature and understanding our relationship to our environment. As we stand on the brink of the most pivotal era in human history, we are faced with multiple crisis (climate change, pandemic, the degradation of the human spirit), raising awareness through art is not enough. As artists we are obligated to envision an alternate future where the interdependent forces of humanity and nature work together according to universal principles. Through my art, I
aspire to envision solutions through enlightened thought as expressed in the images. Guided by an unseen hand, I am seeking to bridge the gap between the artwork and the viewer to communicate these urgent messages. As the prophetic journalist Umair Haque has warned us, “Change or die”. Yet the light keeps reminding us, “Change and live”.
Curriculum Vitae
- 1966 M.F.A. in Sculpture, Pratt Institute, New York (Graduated 4.0 GPA)
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1964 B. Sc. in Sculpture, Skidmore College (Periclean Society)
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1963-1964 Worked in the studio of sculptor David Smith.
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1963-1964 Apprenticed in welding techniques at Stoddard Welding, Saratoga, NY
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1961 Attended New York University (Studied Art History with Professor H.W. Jansen)
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1960 Attended Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (Art Major)
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1960 Graduated Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY (Honors)
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1994 Mentored by Sylvia Wolfe Ipsen, past President of the Appraisers Association of America in Appraisal Science.
- 2010 Included in book Jamaican Art, LMH Publishers, Kingston, Jamaica
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2008 Included in book Miami Contemporary Artists, Schiffler Publishers
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2005 100 Florida Power Players Award, Florida International Magazine
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2004 Merrill Lynch sponsored artist, OMNIART, City of Miami for Art Basel
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2003 Merrill Lynch sponsored artist/curator, Amigos, during Art Basel (with Robert Miller Gallery)
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2002 Merrill Lynch sponsored exhibition and lecture on The Shekkinah Scrolls
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2001 Tiger Tail Foundation, Artist’s Access Grant
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2000-2012 New York Foundation for the Arts Sponsorship for The Shekkinah Scrolls
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1998 Included in book Modern Jamaican Art, Ian Randle Publishers, Kingston, Jamaica
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1997 New York Foundation for the Arts Sponsorship for Godessy
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1989 Bronze Medal, Government of Jamaica
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1983 Silver Medal, Government of Jamaica
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1964 Brooklyn Museum Fellowship
- 2009 - 2017 Painting Instructor, Saana Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
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2007 - 2009 Adjunct Professor, Visual Arts, Miami International University of Art & Design
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2003 - 2007 Adjunct Professor in Painting & Figure Drawing, DASH (Design & Arch. Sr. High) as part of the Dual Enrollment Program, Miami Dade College
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2002 - 2005 Adjunct Faculty, Caribbean Art History, University of Miami, Miami, FL
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2001 – 2009 Adjunct Faculty and course Author, Caribbean Art History, FIU, Miami, FL
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2001 – 2003 Adjunct faculty Painting, FIU, Miami, FL
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1980 – 1983 Art teacher, Jamaica School of Art, Kingston, Jamaica
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1975 - 1977 Lecturer on Design, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
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1971 - 1975 Art Teacher, Hillel Academy, Kingston, Jamaica
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1966 - 1969 Art Lecturer in sculpture, Hunter College, New York City, NY
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1965 - 1966 Student Teacher, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
- 2017 Artistic Director, DEEP SEE for Art Miami, Curated by Dr. Carol Damian
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2014 Co-Curator with Dr. Carol Damian, Central American Art for Fundacion Rozas Botran of Guatemala at Northern Trust Bank, Miami, FL
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2014 Curatorial Advisor, Caribbean Crossroads, exhibition the Perez Art Museum, Miami
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2012 – 2013 Chair, Exhibitions Committee, National Gallery of Jamaica
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2012 - present Member/Director, Board of Management, The National Gallery of Jamaica
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2010 Project coordinator for Revised Edition of Jamaican Art book for LMH Publishers
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2007-2008 Member, Selections Committee, Art Miami Art Fair
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2005-2007 Lecturer on Caribbean Art, The Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
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2007 Curator and panel convener, “Caribbean Crosscurrents”, Art Miami, Miami, Florida
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2006– 2019 Principal Art Advisor, Frank and Bebita Mestre Collection of Caribbean Art, Miami, FL
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2006 Convener, Photography Panel Discussion, Art Miami, Miami, Florida
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2005 Artistic Director, OMNIART 3, for the City of Miami for Art Basel
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2005 Curator with Dr. Carol Damian & Dr. Julia Herzberg, OMNIART 2, for Art Miami
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2003-present Executive Director, The Miart Foundation
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2004 General Curator (with Carol Damian), OMNIART I for the City of Miami for Art Basel
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2003 Curator & Coordinator, Amigos exhibition, Wynwood, Miami (w/ Robert Miller Gallery)
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2003 - 2005 Member, Education Committee, Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL
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2003-2009 Director/Curator, Chelsea Galleria, Miami, FL.
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1994 - 1998 Member, Appraiser’s Association of America as a Qualified Appraiser
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1989 – 2009 Chairman and Art Advisor, Chelsea Galleries, Kingston, Jamaica: curated and installed over 100 exhibitions of Caribbean and International Art
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1980 –1982 Board of Directors, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, NY
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1974 - Present Director of Contract Interiors/Color Consultant, Eran Spiro and Associates
- ABC, PBS, WDNA, ARTnews, ArtNet, Hyperallergic, Art in America, Time, Newsweek, Washington Times, The New York Times, New York Post, Vogue, Bazaar, Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, Miami New Times, Street Weekly, Urbana Magazine, Florida International Magazine, more.
Included in the book Miami Contemporary Artist, Schiffler Publishing, 2008, Paul Clemence & Julie Davidow. Included in the book Modern Jamaica Art by Ian Randal Publishers and Jamaican Art by LMH Publishers, Kingston, Jamaica.
- 2017 DEEP SEE (main container), Special Project for Art Miami 2017
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2015 Homage to Jamaica, The French Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica
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2014 Tina Spiro: Selected Works, Ricart Gallery, Wynwood Arts District, Miami. FL
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2011 “On the Edge of Light” Maor Gallery, Miami, Florida (for Art Basel)
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2010 “Into the Light” (with Paul Stoppi), Mutual Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
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2010 Jamaica Sojourne, WDNA Gallery, Miami, FL
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2005 Mayaimi, OMNIART-Miami for Art Basel
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2005 Paint the Town, OMNIART-Miami for Art Miami
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2004 Paint the Town, OMNIART-Miami for Art Basel
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2003 Dibujos de Luz, Chelsea Galleria, Miami, Fl.
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2002 Godessy, part of "Amigos", World Arts Building, for Art Basel, Miami, Florida
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2001 The Shekkinah Scrolls and Tabernacle Preview, DACRA, Miami
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2001 The Shekkinah Scrolls, Alpert JCC, Long Beach, California
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2000 The Shekkinah Scrolls Preview, The Madonna Building (DACRA), Miami, Fl.
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1997 Chelsea Galleries, Kingston, Jamaica
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1992 Chelsea Galleries, Kingston, Jamaica
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1981 John Peartree Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
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1977 Bolivar Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
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1973 John Peartree Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
- 2020 Summer Exhibition, National Gallery of Jamaica (Invited Artist)
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2019 Alumni Exhibition, The Tang Teaching Museum, Skidmore College, Saratoga, NY
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2017 The Jamaica Biennial, The National Gallery of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica
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2015 Beijing Biennale, The National Museum of China, Beijing (representing the US)
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2015 New Figuration, Luminarte Gallery, Dallas, Texas
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2014 Jamaica Biennale, The National Gallery of Jamaica
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2014 Jamaica Biennial, National Gallery of Jamaica
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2014 Surrealism, LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, Texas
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2013 Fantastic Realism, LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, Texas
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2013 EARTH WIND FIRE, Tryall Club, Montego Bay, JA
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2012 Jamaica Biennial, National Gallery of Jamaica
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2012 Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing (representing Jamaica)
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2011 Imaginary Realities, Mutual Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
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2010 Jamaica Biennial, National Gallery of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica
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2010 Beijing Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing, (representing Jamaica)
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2008 Jamaica Biennial, National Gallery of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica
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2008 eARTh/Anima; Chelsea Galleria (with Fernando Calzadilla), Miami, FL
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2008 eARTh/Terra; Chelsea Galleria, Miami FL
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2007 “Barely Legal”, Chelsea Galleria, Miami, FL
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2006 “20/20”, Chelsea Galleria, Miami, Florida
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2006 “Miami In Transition” The Miami Art Museum, Miami, Florida
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2005 “Project Creo”, The Art Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
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2004 Chelsea Galleria, Miami, Florida; Dibujos De Luz
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2004 OMNIART 3, Downtown Miami, Florida; Mayaimi
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2004 OMNIART 2, Downtown Miami; Paint The Town
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2003 OMNIART I, Downtown Miami; Paint The Town
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2003 Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida; All Florida
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2003 Westwood Gallery, New York, NY; The Physics of Spirituality
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2003 Exit Art, New York; Biennial; Reconstruction
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2002 Biennial, National Gallery of Jamaica
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2002 Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Miami, Florida; No Show
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2002 FIU Case Center, University Park, Miami, Florida; Faculty Exhibition
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2000 Anita Shapolsky Gallery, New York, New York; Younger Artists
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2000 Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, Florida; Collector's Collect
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1999 Jorge M. Sori Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida; New Caribbean Masters
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1977 Stendhal Gallery, New York, NY; Women's Art
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1997 Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Caribbean Painting Biennial
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1996 Stendhal Gallery, New York, New York, Red and Black
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1995 Jorge M. Sori, Miami, Florida, Group Exhibition
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1995 National Gallery of Jamaica; New Acquisitions
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1994 Museo Nacional, Havana, Cuba; Fifth Wilfredo Lam Bienal
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1994 National Gallery of Jamaica; Arawak Vibrations
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1993 Stendhal Gallery, New York, New York; Red and Black
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1992 Long Island University, New York; Jamaica to Brooklyn 1992
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1992 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1991 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1990 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1990 Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York; Alumni Invitational
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1989 United States Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica; American Women's Group
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1989 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1988 United States Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica; Curator, Masterpieces of Jamaican Art
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1988 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1987 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1986 The Historical Museum of Florida
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1986 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1985 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1984 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1983-85 Smithsonian Institute (SITES touring exhibition); Jamaican Art 1922-1982
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1983 Newhouse Gallery, Staten Island, New York; 12 Women Artists
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1983 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1982 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1981 National Gallery of Jamaica, Theme and Variation
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1981 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1981 Mutual Life Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica, Women's Art
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1980 Womanart Gallery, New York, New York; Surrealism
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1980 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1979 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1978 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1979 Lehigh University Museum, Pennsylvania; Revival of Realism
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1977-96 National Gallery of Jamaica, Annual National Exhibition
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1976 Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York; Women Sculptors
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1970 Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York; Contemporary Women Artists
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1966 Jewish Museum, New York, New York; Primary Structures
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1966 Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 7 Sculptors
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1966 World House Gallery, New York, New York; Sculpture from All Directions
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1965 Castagno Gallery, New York, New York
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1964 The World's Fair, Flushing, New York