Judith Salmon Bridging the Gap with Art

Judith Salmon, a Jamaican visual artist and printmaker, has carved a unique niche in the art world with her innovative techniques and profound themes. Operating from her studio nestled in the cool hills overlooking Kingston, she masterfully blends painting and printmaking, exploring a diverse range of materials such as wood, fabric, wax, and paper. Her creative process involves building up and reducing surfaces—gouging, collaging, texturing, and manipulating—to craft a distinctive visual language that resonates with many.

Salmon’s dedication to printmaking led her to the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York City

during the mid-1980s. There, she honed her skills and found strength in relief printing. Her commitment and talent were recognized in 1987 when she received the Centenary Purchase Award from the National Gallery of Jamaica for her print series on National Hero Marcus Garvey. Further acclaim came in 1995 when her iconic piece, “Unmasking the Goddess,” was exhibited by the National Museum of Women in the Arts during the Tenth United Nations Decade for Women in Beijing, China. More recently, in 2019, she was honored with the National Gallery of Jamaica’s Dawn Scott Memorial Award.

Salmon’s work often delves into themes of identity, history, and spirituality. Her series “Journey,” inspired by a visit to Senegal’s Gorée Island—a historic slave trade port—uses the boat as a motif to symbolize the human body’s journey through life, reflecting on our spiritual selves and ancestral roots. Another compelling installation, “Travellers All,” features wax molds of feet, symbolizing presence and absence, and inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of existence.

Beyond her artistic creations, Salmon has contributed significantly to the academic sphere. She has lectured in Printmaking at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and presented on the topic at the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference in 2017. Her academic credentials include a BA in Liberal Arts from Norwich University, Vermont; an MFA in Studio Art from Johnson State College, Vermont; and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of South Florida.

For those interested in exploring her work further, a selection of her pieces is available through Experience Jamaique, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of themes and materials that define her art. Whether through her evocative prints or thought-provoking installations, Judith Salmon continues to be a vital force in Jamaican and Caribbean art, bridging past and present, tradition and innovation.