As part of The Cultural Between exhibition at the Miramar Cultural Center—curated by Sankofa’s Child, Inc.—we are highlighting the vibrant, multidisciplinary creators who explore the space between their island roots and diaspora realities.
In our debut artist interview, curator Nzingah Blanchard sits down with Tracy Ann Simmonds, an interdisciplinary visual artist, photographer, and painter whose practice explores identity, cultural memory, mental health, and the reclamation of self.
🎨 An Interdisciplinary Journey: Lens, Brush & Body
Tracy Ann’s interdisciplinary foundation was shaped during her time as a performing artist with the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago while earning her B.A. in Photography from Columbia College Chicago. A professional photographer since 2004, her practice has continuously expanded into painting, mixed media, collage, and installation.
Raised in Jamaica, Queens, with a rich tapestry of Jamaican, Saint Martin, Trinidadian, Cuban, and Puerto Rican lineage, she views her Caribbean heritage not as a separate influence, but as the very lens through which she lives and creates.
“Being of Caribbean descent… there is no way to separate that from life. It informs everything we do—our colors, our cooking, our dancing, our art.”
— Tracy Ann Simmonds
Featured Work: Tsunami: Waves of Displacement
In The Cultural Between, Tracy Ann showcases pieces from Tsunami, her acclaimed fine art series launched in response to the lingering effects of the global pandemic. An emotional archive of water-themed dreamscapes, the series speaks to the chaos, isolation, and ongoing waves of transformation.
Her signature technique fuses layered textures and intentional alchemy:
- Predatory Lending Shreds: Transforming discarded credit card mailers and junk mail into acts of protest, poetry, and sacred art.
- Tactile & Cultural Elements: Integrating pointillism, acrylic and house paints, African fabrics, pearls, and hair braided directly into the narrative.
- Ancestral Proverbs: Embedding wisdom across Jamaican, Nigerian, Bantu, Hebrew, and Scottish traditions to offer comfort and guidance.
Her work directly challenges economic injustice, environmental destruction, and aesthetic exclusion—creating space for healing, grief, joy, and beauty to coexist.
Why Representation in Caribbean Fine Art Matters
Tracy Ann emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated exhibition spaces for contemporary Caribbean fine artists. Beyond traditional folk art and market scenes, diasporic artists are engaging in complex, contemporary dialogues around mental health, sustainability, and cultural restoration.
“Ultimately, I create work as a form of resistance, remembrance, and restoration. My hope is that every piece becomes a space of connection — for viewers to recognize something of themselves, to feel seen, and to feel whole.”
🗓️ Exhibition Details
- Exhibition: The Cultural Between (Caribbean Heritage Exhibition)
- Location: Miramar Cultural Center / ArtsPark (Ansin Family Art Gallery), 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL
- Dates: June 30 – August 21, 2026 | Monday – Thursday, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Curated by: Sankofa’s Child, Inc.
- Learn More: www.sankofaschild.org/exhibits
Connect with the Artist:
- Website: tracyannsimmonds.com
- Socials:
@tracyannsim/@tracyannsimmonds