Permanent Collections

The Permanent Collection provides a comprehensive overview of twentieth century Jamaican Art, from 1922 - Present and is spread over ten galleries of the specifically Jamaican movements, Mainstream and Intuitive (self- taught), which emerged in the twentieth century.

View the Permanent Collection.

This collection houses a selection of Taino artifacts (Jamaica’s native people) as well as Jamaican and West Indian artwork of the Spanish and English colonial periods. This collection occupies two galleries, and is viewed by special request. 

The International Collection is devoted to pre and post 1950 international trends, with a special concentration on art from in the Caribbean region.

The works in this gallery are often removed to accommodate traveling exhibitions or temporary exhibitions mounted by the National Gallery.

This collection presents major paintings and sculptures by Mallica Reynolds ‘Kapo’, one of the best known and most prolific of the Jamaican Intuitive (self-taught) artists. These 65 pieces form the most extensive single collec-tion of Kapo’s work in existence. 

This memorial collection is a specialized collection devoted to the life and work of the acclaimed sculptor widely acknowledged as the “Mother of Jamaican Art”.

Named after Jamaica’s “master potter”, this gallery houses the National Gallery’s Collection of ceramics. It is, however, currently under renovation.

A gift from the collector to the people of Jamaica, The A. D. Scott Collection contains several works by the most influential Jamaican artists of the 1960s and 70s. The works in the A. D. Scott Collection are often moved throughout the Gallery to accomodate temporary exhibitions mounted by the National Gallery.

Images from the A.D. Scott Collection

Barrington Watson “Captive, 1972″; Oil on canvas; 152.4 x 127 cm

Osmond Watson, “Horsehead Masquerade, 1987″; Oil on canvas; 101.6 x 71.1 cm

Alvin Marriott, “Boysie, 1962″; Oak; Height: 53 cm

Aaron Matalon chaired the National Gallery from 1991 until his retirement in 2002.

Mr Matalon played a tremendous role in expanding the collection and in developing plans for the new National Gallery building (yet to be erected). He was also actively involved in establishing the gift shop and in developing the “Art Fair and Auction” concept as a primary fund-raising tool.

His generosity in personally funding many of the National Gallery of Jamaica’s activities, was climaxed by his own outstanding gifts (along with his wife Marjorie) of over 200 works to the Gallery in 1999.

These works are not assigned to a particular gallery, but instead are incorporated in the historical survey galleries.

Images from the Matalon Collection

Carl Abrahams, “As Time Goes By, 1982″, Oil on canvas; 90 x 120 cm

Seya Parboosingh, “Sharing at the Table, 1999″; Oil on canvas; 92 x 91.5 cm

Kacey Shay, “Hope River, 1999″; Acrylic on canvas; 61 x 46 cm

The Permanent and Permanently Hosted Collections at the National Gallery of Jamaica include:

- The A. D. Scott Collection

- The Matalon Collection

- The Pre-20th Century Collection

- The Edna Manley Collection

- The Cecil Baugh Gallery

- The Photography Collection

- The Larry Wirth Collection

- The Permanent Collection