In a dynamic fusion of art, culture, and culinary excellence, the fourth Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival (October 22-26) culminated last month at the expansive Baha Mar hotel with the third presentation of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair and a headline performance by part-Bahamian legend Lenny Kravitz.
The Third Edition of FUZE
Scotiabank, the title sponsor for FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, showcased its collection of Junkanoo-themed paintings by Bahamian artist Rolf Harris, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
Entitled “All A We…”—with a poster designed by the Los Angeles-based artist Shepard Fairey—the 2025 edition of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair returned to Nassau with its most expansive program yet, unfurling across the grounds as a cornerstone of the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar. As guests wandered through the fair’s layout, photographs, paintings, installations, and more reflected Caribbean culture through rich materials, bright colors, and layered storylines. On its opening night, a local Junkanoo band performed throughout the aisles as visitors sipped wine, snacked on locally-made bites, and connected over the creativity around them.
‘Back to Back, Belly to Belly’ sculpture by Antonius Roberts at the FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
A display of work from TERN Gallery, a featured gallery at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
Presented by Scotiabank, the fair continued to amplify the Caribbean’s creative pulse, welcoming residents and international visitors onto a vibrant platform that melded visual, culinary, and performing arts in celebratory union.
“Scotiabank is proud to support FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, which provides a vital platform for showcasing the richness and vibrancy of Caribbean culture,” said Roger Archer, Vice President and Country Manager of Scotiabank Bahamas. “By investing in the orange economy, we are not only celebrating our nation’s extraordinary artistic talent, but also reinforcing the role of culture as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development across the region.”
A Record-Breaking Showcase of Caribbean Talent
Antonius Roberts, Bahamian artist, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
For its third presentation, FUZE expanded its footprint to feature more than 120 artists and galleries representing 21 countries—its largest curatorial scope to date. The fair’s growth mirrors the international momentum surrounding Caribbean artists, whose practices often intertwine visual experimentation with cultural memory, identity, and resilience. In addition to the Bahamian artists and galleries present—including Antonius Roberts, Jessica Whittingham, Javon Nixon, Cydne Jasmin Coleby, Jordanna Kelly, TERN Gallery, Edrin Symonette, and Baha Mar’s gallery named The Current—other global artists and exhibitors participated, too, including New York-based Lougè Delcy, Johannesburg-based Justin Dingwall, Toronto-based Asia Clarke and Adetona Omokanye, Barbados-based Alanis Forde and Akilah Watts, and Havana-based Pablo Bordón, among others.
John Cox, FUZE Director and Executive Director of Arts & Culture at Baha Mar, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
“In just three years, FUZE has evolved into a powerful platform, connecting Caribbean artists with fair attendees from around the world,” said John Cox, Executive Director of Arts & Culture at Baha Mar. “This year’s collection brings together a powerful and diverse range of voices, reinforcing the fair’s mission to celebrate fresh perspectives and groundbreaking work shaping the future of art in our region.”
From left, Scotiabank representative, Bahamian artist Lavar Munroe, and Amanda Coulson of TERN
Gallery at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
Featured artists included Malene Barnett, an award-winning artist and founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild; Lavar Munroe, 2023 Guggenheim Fellow known for his potent narrative and interdisciplinary practice; Deborah Jack, whose work examines climate justice and cultural memory; Janine Antoni, celebrated for her boundary-pushing conceptual language; and Justin Dingwall, SCOPE Miami x FUZE 2024 Residency Prize Winner, whose striking photographic works resonate deeply with Afro-Caribbean identity.
Festival Energy Elevated by Lenny Kravitz’s Homecoming
Junkanoo Dance Performance at the Fuze Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
Part of the larger Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, FUZE thrived within a weekend packed with global talent and star power. A highlight of the festivities was an intimate performance by four-time GRAMMY Award–winner Lenny Kravitz, who returned to his Bahamian roots for a homecoming moment that electrified the festival.
“The Bahamas has always been my home, as well as heartfelt inspiration for my music,” said Kravitz. “I’m humbled to join fellow Caribbean artists, creatives and innovators—and I look forward to sharing this experience with a community that means so much to me.”
For Baha Mar, Kravitz’s return underscored the importance of celebrating cultural heritage across all creative disciplines. “His deep personal connection to The Bahamas resonates with us all, and his performance is a full-circle moment,” shared Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar.
Culinary Masters Complete the Immersive Festival
From left, Othniel Duncombe, guest; Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism; and Roger Archer,
Scotiabank, VP, District Head at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
Alongside FUZE, the festival welcomed a powerhouse roster of culinary luminaries—including Marcus Samuelsson, Daniel Boulud, Dario Cecchini, and Scott Conant. Bahamian favorite Simeon Hall Jr. and renowned Food Network chefs Amanda Freitag, Carla Hall, Maneet Chauhan, and Geoffrey Zakarian led demonstrations, intimate dinners, tastings, and workshops.
This seamless integration of art and cuisine has become the festival’s signature—an immersive model that draws thousands annually to explore the rich intersections of Caribbean culture.
A Thriving Stage for the Future of Caribbean Art
Jessica Whittingham, Bahamian artist at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
With expanded programming, a broadened international presence, and a mission rooted in championing both emerging and established Caribbean voices, FUZE continues to shape the artistic landscape of the region. The 2025 edition illustrated not only the depth of talent across the islands but also the global relevance of the Caribbean’s contemporary cultural narrative.
Those invested in the presentation spent the rest of the week exploring other parts of the Bahamas landscape—from Junkanoo, conch shacks, and the unforgettable blue waters surrounding the island to The V&M Gallery and the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.
Junkanoo Dance Performance at the Fuze Caribbean Art Fair, courtesy of FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025.
