Forging Caribbean Connections at 1-54: TERN Gallery’s Global Vision

Founded in Nassau in 2020 by Lauren Holowesko Perez and Amanda Coulson, TERN Gallery has quickly become a defining voice for contemporary art from The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. Rooted in the belief that local belonging and global access can coexist, the gallery presents four to five exhibitions annually while offering advisory services that connect regional artists with international audiences.

Earlier this October, TERN made its European debut at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2025, presenting a group showcase at Booth W7 featuring Anina Major, Blue Curry, Leasho Johnson, and Marisa Willoughby-Holland—four artists whose works explore landscape, identity, and ideas of home through distinct yet interconnected perspectives. The presentation underscored the gallery’s commitment to expanding visibility for Caribbean art beyond geographic boundaries and fostering dialogue across cultures.

Whitewall spoke with Lauren Holowesko Perez about the gallery’s founding vision, its carefully curated roster of artists, and what it means to bring the voices of The Bahamas and the Caribbean to an international stage.

WHITEWALL: Could you share a bit about how TERN came to life—what inspired you and Amanda to found the gallery in Nassau, and what guiding ethos continues to shape your mission today?

LAUREN HOLOWESKO PEREZ: TERN emerged at a moment of transition and shared vision. Amanda, following a decade as Director of our National Gallery in Nassau and after founding and leading Volta Art Fair, joined forces with me as I returned from six years in London working across diverse sectors of the art industry. After completing a development project in Nassau—where I served as creative director and curated a collection—the need for continued support and greater international recognition of Bahamian and wider Caribbean artists was undeniable.

“TERN emerged at a moment of transition and shared vision,”

Lauren Holowesko Perez

The opening of TERN in December 2020 was shaped by the challenges and shifts brought about by the pandemic. We recognized that to properly champion the region’s exceptional artists while operating within the region, we needed to engage directly with the global art conversation. From the outset, we committed to an ambitious art fair program to establish our presence and bring visibility to our artists and their work.

Our mission is to help forge a more unified cultural identity across the Caribbean—one that celebrates both our shared narratives and our individual distinctions. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and dialogue, TERN seeks to build meaningful connections, foster critical discourse, and encourage the free exchange of ideas, culture, and creativity across the region.

Championing Extraordinary Artists

WW: TERN represents an exciting roster of emerging and mid-career artists from The Bahamas and across the Caribbean. How do you select the voices you work with, and what connects them philosophically or materially?

LHP: Before founding TERN, Amanda and I were already working in different capacities with some of the formidable Bahamian artists who are now on our roster. There was never a question about who we wanted to work with when it came to our people from the 242—but the bigger question was how to begin weaving in the broader Caribbean narrative.

We were adamant about showcasing the extraordinary range of practices and materiality across the region, so our first collaboration beyond The Bahamas was with Rodell Warner, a Trinidadian artist working in new media and photography. Right from the start, we curated a show exclusively of video work—not the easiest kick-start from a commercial perspective, but one that set the tone for our dedication to uniquely brilliant voices and practices that challenge any preconceived notions of tropicality.

“We were adamant about showcasing the extraordinary range of practices and materiality across the region,”

Lauren Holowesko Perez

There’s a red thread running through our artists’ practices—a shared desire to challenge the idyllic narratives so often projected onto the Caribbean. Their works move beyond the reductive imagery of sun and sand, expanding the visual language of the tropics with intellect, depth, and critical thinking.

A Pivotal Moment for TERN

WW: This is TERN’s first fair outside the U.S. What made you decide that now was the right moment to participate in London, and how does it feel to introduce your artists to a new audience here?

LHP: Amanda and I both have a history of living and working in the U.K., so it felt like the next natural step given our understanding of the market here. It’s an amazing feeling to come back after many years of hard work in the U.K. to show what we’ve been building over the past four years at home. There’s an enormous sense of pride and joy in showcasing these incredible talents and human beings—and to really blow the whistle (Junkanoo style) on what’s being achieved by these artists.

“There’s an enormous sense of pride and joy in showcasing these incredible talents and human beings,”

Lauren Holowesko Perez

There’s also a special energy and connectivity with the Caribbean diaspora that feels particularly acknowledged and vibrant in London.

WW: Your booth explores ideas of home, belonging, and landscape through four distinctive practices. How did you approach curating this presentation, and what dialogues do you hope it sparks?

LHP: We love the dialogue around home and how these four unique voices investigate selfhood and identity within a neo-colonial space.

We were not only thinking about how these artists bring awareness to the complexities of the region but also about sustainability and collaboration. Working with two artists based in the U.K. was an important part of making this long journey and presentation viable. The support of 1-54 has also been a huge part of our success at this fair.

“Working with two artists based in the U.K. was an important part of making this long journey and presentation viable,”

Lauren Holowesko Perez

We hope our presentation helps redirect ideas of “island life” and expand the understanding of visibility and representation—encouraging visitors to question regional constructs and become more discerning global citizens.

Balancing Ambition and Sustainability

WW: You mentioned the challenges of the current market. How do you balance ambition with sustainability—and what kind of collectors or institutional relationships feel most meaningful to build right now?

LHP: There’s always a balance between doing right by our artists and growing a business that remains sustainable, while also contributing to the sustainability of an art ecosystem both at home and regionally. Our mission is to engage with the international market, bring institutional awareness to the voices we represent, and provide meaningful connections for our artists through residencies and partnerships.

As we always say, rising tides float all boats—so collaborating with other galleries and dealers is a core part of what we do for our artists. We’re small, and we never want that to hinder anyone’s career. Amanda and I make many concessions when it comes to sustainability to ensure we can continue to move the needle.

WW: Looking back over the past five years of TERN’s journey, what moments or milestones have felt especially meaningful to you, and how do you envision the next chapter?

LHP: We’ve placed works in some truly wonderful institutions, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more pride than seeing our region officially recognized within the art-historical canon in that way. It never feels less momentous as we continue to work toward many more of those moments.

We also take great pride in allowing artists to exist as artists—providing enough financial stability for them to take their careers to the next level. That’s part of the sustainable ecosystem we’re excited to be building.

We turn five in December, and we’re looking forward to growing our space and, hopefully, our team so we can accomplish more, cast a wider net, and maximize our impact.