New Paper Issue 05
Youth is Forever
Hey Collective
It’s Issue 05!
This time we’re looking at how place shapes practice, and how the stories we tell about home evolve alongside the landscapes themselves. We’re spotlighting Iain MacRae, a young Caymanian artist whose work examines identity, development, and belonging through raw materials drawn directly from the land. His approach to his process, community, and Caribbean narrative offers valuable perspective as we continue building our own practices.
Also another fresh batch of creative opportunities to support your practice. We hope you’re applying and pushing forward. Every step counts. Let’s keep building.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Finding Home in the Canvas: Iain MacRae’s Vision of Caribbean Identity
A young Caymanian artist explores memory, development, and belonging through raw materials and layered narratives
When Iain MacRae works, he begins with the land itself. Using raw canvas as his foundation, the Caymanian artist builds each piece from the ground up, quite literally mixing sand into his materials.
“I use materials such as sand to create concrete-like textures, which speak to the rapid development taking place not only in Cayman but across the wider Caribbean,” MacRae explains. His warm color palettes, drawn directly from the Caymanian environment, form the backdrop for explorations of community, heritage, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation.
A Canvas That Changes
MacRae’s choice of raw canvas is deliberate and symbolic. “I like to work on raw canvas, as it allows the surface to act as the land, while the paint and materials layered on top represent the people and developments,” he says. The method mirrors a larger truth about Caribbean territories: “Much like a lot of the Caribbean, Cayman itself is raw and unprepared for everything we place upon it, but we engage with it regardless.”
Over time, his canvases naturally degrade as materials interact with the surface. This is a planned impermanence that reflects the environmental threat of overdevelopment. What appears complete in one moment becomes something else entirely as the work evolves, much like the landscape itself.
Building Community Through Culture
For MacRae, community isn’t an abstract concept. It’s built through the small, everyday practices that create shared belonging. “Practices like thatching, preparing food for friends and family, or singing a familiar song all contribute to a shared sense of belonging,” he notes. These elements find their way into his visual language, creating what he describes as “a visual sense of community on the canvas.”
Recent works have engaged more directly with this theme, exploring communities in Cayman, Florence, and Bocas del Toro. This is a direction he plans to develop further in his evolving practice.
Beyond the Narrative of Struggle
As a visual artist from a smaller Caribbean territory, MacRae feels a particular responsibility when presenting Caribbean art to global audiences. He’s keenly aware of how Caribbean narratives have historically been framed.
“I believe that for a long time, narratives about the Caribbean have been dominated by themes of struggle,” he observes. “While struggle is certainly part of our history, there is often an assumption globally that it defines who we are, as if we cannot be seen beyond it.”
He points to Caribbean chefs like Kwame Onwuachi and Gregory Gourdet, whose fine dining was initially dismissed as “simple” before perceptions shifted over the following decade. “Their success demonstrated that while the Caribbean’s history includes struggle, our creativity, talent, and culture are not limited by it.”
MacRae sees his role as presenting Caribbean art in its full complexity, “showing that we have a capable and vibrant community whose stories deserve to be seen and valued globally.”
Anchored and Guided
When asked about inspiration, MacRae reveals a bittersweet truth: many of his muses “got replaced by hotels.” Still, he finds himself returning to the National Gallery and the Eastern districts of Cayman. These are places that remind him “of what Cayman once was and likely will never be again.”
His Caribbean heritage functions as both anchor and compass. “It serves as an anchor, a constant point of return that grounds me in a sense of identity and place,” he explains. “No matter how far my practice evolves or how experimental my work becomes, that connection to home remains central, providing both stability and direction.”
Advice for Emerging Artists
For young Caribbean artists searching for their authentic voice, MacRae offers simple wisdom: “Don’t rush.” He encourages artists to make work for themselves, finding value in process over product. “Take time to engage deeply with your work, experiment, research, and explore. This will help you understand what shapes your perspective, clarifies your purpose, and ultimately allows you to find your own authentic voice.”
To MacRae, “Caribbean art” isn’t a single aesthetic or narrative but rather “a space where different experiences coexist, sometimes in tension.” It is any creative practice by someone from the Caribbean diaspora. Through raw canvas, warm palettes, and materials drawn from the land itself, he continues mapping that complex, ever-changing terrain.
You can find and support MacRae’s work on his instagram: @macraeart
Or his website: https://www.macraeart.com/
Latest Art News from the Caribbean and Diaspora
Caribbean Art Exhibitions & Events
Current and Upcoming - January 2026
Current Exhibitions
Sherwin Ovid: “What is the Poesis of Dis-Possession?”
University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery
Jan 12 - Feb 19, 2026
Explores migration and Caribbean diaspora through paintings and installations
INFUSED! Digital Exhibition
Barbados Museum & Historical Society (online)
Through Jan 31, 2026
Emerging artists exploring Caribbean heritage and identity
The Strangers
Atelier Jolie, New York
Inspired by James Baldwin, exploring Black diaspora themes
African Diaspora Art
Howard University Gallery, Washington DC
Through May 15, 2026
Major show reclaiming diaspora narratives
Recent Events
Prime Creative Arts Center Groundbreaking
St. Kitts and Nevis, early January 2026
New facility for Caribbean visual arts and performance
Creative Residency Program
Dominica, January 2026
Seven creatives reshaping regional narratives
LA Art Show
January 7-11, 2026
Gallery debut featuring contemporary Caribbean art from Martinique
FUZE Caribbean Art Expo
Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas (late 2025)
Immersive art experiences building diaspora connections
Ongoing Initiatives
Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (Miami) - Supporting emerging Caribbean and Latin diaspora artists
The Razzy Art Show - TV series airing on FLOW Jamaica across 25 Caribbean countries
Opportunities for Caribbean Artists
We’ve compiled the most beneficial international residencies and grants for Caribbean artists, all with no application fees. These deadlines are approaching fast, so act quickly. All listed opportunities are open to international applicants or specifically tailored for artists in the Caribbean and Jamaica.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Artist Opportunities Newsletter
January 2026 Edition
ENDING SOON
Anderson Center at Tower View Artist Residency Program
Deadline: January 13, 2026 (noon CST) • ENDS IN 0 DAYS
Live/work space, meals, and cohort support for early-, mid-, and established artists across all disciplines. Only one deadline for 2026 spots.
Good Hart Artist Residency
Deadline: January 13, 2026 • ENDS IN 0 DAYS
Open for 2026 and early 2027 residencies for visual artists, writers, and composers.
MARCH 2026 Residency Arraiolos
Deadline: January 13, 2026 • ENDS IN 0 DAYS
General artist residency in Arraiolos, Portugal.
Riding Mountain National Park Residency
Deadline: January 14, 2026 • ENDS IN 1 DAY
CAD$2,500 grant plus 2-week stay in nature (June-September) in Manitoba, Canada.
Solitary Artist Retreat Nevada Desert
Deadline: January 18, 2026 • ENDS IN 5 DAYS
Solo retreat experience in the Nevada desert.
RESIDENCIES
John Michael Kohler Arts Center – Arts/Industry Residency
Deadline: Check website (extended deadlines available)
3-month residency with pottery/foundry industrial access, materials, housing, and honorarium in Wisconsin, USA.
Harvestworks 2026 Artists-in-Residence Program
Deadline: Rolling/ongoing selection into 2026
NYC-based residency for artists working at the intersection of technology and art. Includes studio space, tech support, mentorship. Projects completed by December 31, 2026.
Hub Feenix Residency
Deadline: January 14-18, 2026 (check specific dates) • ENDS IN 1-5 DAYS
Residency in Finland, April-December 2026. Multidisciplinary focus.
Printmaking Barcelona
Deadline: January 14-18, 2026 (check specific dates) • ENDS IN 1-5 DAYS
Printmaking-focused residency in Barcelona, Spain.
Ucross Fall 2026 Residency
Deadline: January 14-18, 2026 (check specific dates) • ENDS IN 1-5 DAYS
Multidisciplinary residency in Wyoming, USA for Fall 2026.
Dorland Mountain Arts Colony
Deadline: January 14-18, 2026 (check specific dates) • ENDS IN 1-5 DAYS
Residency in California, USA for writers and composers.
Environmental Artist Residency
Deadline: February 1, 2026 • ENDS IN 19 DAYS
Themed residency focused on environmental art and issues.
GRANTS & FUNDING
Dallas Museum of Art Awards for Artists
Deadline: February 15, 2026 • ENDS IN 33 DAYS
Multiple grants available for artists in Texas and surrounding regions:
Youth artists: up to $1,500
Artists over 30: $6,000 travel grant
Artists under 30: $3,500
Innovate Grants for Art + Photo
Deadline: March 19, 2026 • ENDS IN 65 DAYS
$1,800 winter grant for visual artists and photographers.
OPEN CALLS
NYC4PA Call for Entry - WATER
Deadline: February 8, 2026 • ENDS IN 26 DAYS
Themed exhibition call exploring the theme of water.
Human Body Themed Exhibition
Deadline: January 31, 2026 • ENDS IN 18 DAYS
Open call for exhibition focused on representations of the human body.
**A FEW TIPS BEFORE YOU APPLY
We know applications can feel overwhelming, so here’s some quick advice:
Start with 3-5 that really speak to you. Don’t try to apply to everything, choose the ones that align with your practice and what you need right now.
Read the guidelines twice. Seriously. Every program wants something slightly different.
Tailor your artist statement. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Connect your practice to the specific residency’s mission or location.
Don’t sleep on the “why now?” Programs want to know why this particular moment matters for your work.
Ask for help. Get a friend or fellow artist to review your application. Fresh eyes catch things.
Most importantly: just apply. The worst that happens is you don’t get it. The best? You’re making work in Greece next summer.
THAT’S A WRAP ON ISSUE 05
Thank you for reading. New Paper is here to connect us to home while pushing us toward what’s next. This issue reminded us that home is both anchor and compass, shaping how we see and what we create. As always, we’ll keep sharing the tools and opportunities to help you grow and stay connected.
Until next time, Knowledge is Forever, Art is Forever.
Have a tip, opportunity, or story for New Paper? Contact hello.foreverworks@gmail.com.
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WEBSITE: forevershowcase.com
