Basket of Flowers
A well-known thatch master in the Cayman Islands, Conolly’s work reflects traditional plaiting skills in new and original ways. Basket of Flowers is one example of a creative repurposing of both the typical thatch basket and a traditional hat turned upside down. In this case, a functional object has been creatively reimagined, with colourful flowers seeming to sprout from the delicately woven thatch basket that contains them, shifting the object from the everyday realm to the elevated world of fine art.
About the Artist
Carmen Conolly
b. 1936
Born in East End, Grand Cayman, Carmen Conolly began basket making as a child, learning thatching techniques from her aunt. By the early 1970s, her skills became more advanced, and she has subsequently become one of the most respected of Cayman’s many talented craftpersons. Her unique thatch designs are a regular feature at national festivals, and she has been recognised with a Heritage Award (CNCF, 2000), a Heritage Gold Cross (CNCF, 2011), and a National Heroes Day Award. Her work can be found in many private and public collections, including the permanent collections of NGCI and the Cayman Islands National Museum. NGCI exhibitions include All Access (2015), Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), and Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020).
