Fertility
Fertility is an early work by Horacio Esteban — a key figure in the Native Sons artist collective known for his use of local materials, notably Caymanite and cedarwood. The voluptuous form of the artist’s sculpture, reminiscent of depictions of fertility goddesses that appear in many faith traditions and cultures around the world, is a strong example of the abstract, nude figures that Esteban and fellow Native Sons such as Al Ebanks were creating at that time. This work also honours the role of women in Caymanian society, and the nurturing influence of mothers in shaping the character of a nation.
About the Artist
Horacio Esteban
b. 1963
Born in Cuba and raised in Cayman Brac, Horacio Esteban is a sculptor and jeweller known for his use of the local semi-precious stone Caymanite. A core member of the Native Sons artists collective, he was recognised by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation for Artistic Excellence in Sculpture (2002) and in 2017 received the Artistic Director’s Visionary Award. In 2004 Esteban was the recipient of the NGCI’s Artist Away Grant and in 2015, he was selected for residency in the inter-island artist lock-in project in Jersey, Channel Islands, produced by the Jersey Arts Trust in partnership with Jersey Heritage and Wild Works Theatre Company. NGCI exhibitions include Emergence (2005), Native Sons’ Fahive (2005), All Access (2015), Saltwater in their Veins (2017), a solo exhibition, Horacio Esteban (2017), Revive: Contemporary Caymanian Craft (2017), Cross Currents – 1st Cayman Islands Biennial (2019), Island of Women: Life at Home During our Maritime Years (2020), a solo exhibition, Alchemy (2020), and The People’s Collection: A 25-Year Cultural Legacy (2022).
