One of a Kind
One of a Kind was commissioned by the National Gallery as part of the 21st Century Cayman exhibition at NGCI in 2010, which sought to reimagine aspects of our traditional heritage in the contemporary experience. Using the iconic catboat sail canvas as a medium for contemporary art is an attempt to connect past to present. In the case of Powery’s work, the artist chooses to portray Cayman’s indigenous Blue Iguana, an endangered species that has become an unofficial emblem of Caymanian culture, alongside the official cultural symbols of the Silver Thatch palm, green sea turtle and Banana Orchid.
About the Artist
Miguel Powery
b. 1957
Born in Grand Cayman, Miguel Powery is a self-taught painter and sculptor who carves black coral and semi-precious stones. A founding member of the Native Sons artists collective, he was recognised with a lifetime achievement award from CNCF in 2003 and as a Cultural Heritage Pioneer at the 2014 National Heroes Day ceremony. His work can be found in the permanent collections of NGCI, the Cayman Islands National Museum and the Cayman Islands Government. His work has been featured at NGCI in a solo exhibition (1999) and in numerous group exhibitions, including Native Sons’ Fahive (2005), 21st Century Cayman (2010), Founded upon the Seas (2012), All Access (2015), Native Sons – Twenty Years On (2016), Saltwater in their Veins (2017), and Tropical Visions (2019).
