Rosie Gordon-Wallace: Championing Caribbean art in South Florida and beyond

For more than two decades, Rosie Gordon-Wallace has been at the forefront of championing Caribbean art, carving out a space for diaspora artists in South Florida and beyond.

As the founder of the Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI), she has provided a crucial platform for Caribbean and immigrant artists to explore their heritage, challenge artistic conventions, and engage in global conversations.

Her latest curatorial effort, The Whole World is Churning: Then and Now | Now and Beyond, currently on view at the Barry University Institute of Immigration Studies in Miami through April 18, 2025, exemplifies her commitment to fostering dialogue on migration, memory, and identity. Organized by DVCAI, the exhibition features nine diasporic artists whose works deconstruct and reimagine historical narratives, drawing attention to the ever-evolving experiences of the Caribbean and broader immigrant communities.

A highlight of the exhibition is Magical Entities, a solo show by multidisciplinary artist Asser St. Val, which delves into themes of Black identity, neuromelanin, and mythology. This emphasis on identity and transformation echoes the very mission of DVCAI—offering artists a laboratory to experiment, redefine themselves, and push boundaries within contemporary art.