The Tropical Realism™ Movement
Tropical Realism is a contemporary Caribbean art movement rooted in authenticity, memory, and place. It reflects the region’s landscapes, histories, and everyday life through a visual language that bridges realism, expression, and cultural narrative.
Artists
About Tropical Realism Founder Sir Calvert Jones, KMFAP
Sir Calvert Jones, KMFAP, is an internationally acclaimed artist, cultural entrepreneur, and the pioneering force behind the trademarked Tropical Realism™ movement. Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, his work captures the spirit, resilience, and complexity of Caribbean life, blending realism with layered cultural and historical narratives.
Knighted by the Knights of Malta in recognition of his contributions to culture and the creative economy, Sir Calvert’s artwork is held in prestigious collections worldwide, including a permanent installation at the Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C., and the private collection of Maja Hoffmann. He has been commissioned to create portraits of global leaders and influential figures, with works featured in institutional, diplomatic, and academic contexts.
Beyond his studio practice, Sir Calvert operates at the intersection of art, policy, and innovation. He has presented on the business of creativity and the role of technology in transforming the cultural sector at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and was invited to deliver a Call to Action on Culture and the Creative Economy at the Organization of American States, contributing to ministerial-level dialogue across the Americas.
Sir Calvert is the architect of the Tropical Realism™ ecosystem, a structured cultural platform integrating fine art, digital technology, Smart Souvenir intellectual property, experiential tourism, and philanthropic stewardship. Designed to be bankable, scalable, and culturally protected, the ecosystem positions Caribbean culture as a globally relevant economic and diplomatic asset.
Through his work, Sir Calvert Jones continues to elevate Caribbean storytelling—bridging heritage and contemporary expression while shaping new models for the creative economy in the region and beyond.
masterpieces
The Masterpieces presented here represent the most significant works within the Tropical Realism movement—paintings conceived not merely as visual statements, but as enduring cultural records.
Each work is the result of extensive research, reflection, and artistic discipline, engaging themes of history, identity, power, memory, and human consciousness as they relate to the Caribbean and its place in the wider world. These paintings are intentionally few, developed over time, and executed with the understanding that certain works are meant to stand beyond era, trend, or market cycle.
Created by Sir Calvert Jones, these works have been exhibited, discussed, and held within institutional, private, and cultural collections. They are positioned not as decorative objects, but as anchor works—designed to provoke dialogue, preserve narrative, and contribute to the long arc of Caribbean artistic legacy.
Certain collections, cultural interactions, and extended experiences continue within the Tropical Realism mobile app which can be downloaded on the Apple or Google Play Stores.
ICONS
General Works
Availability, placement, and related engagement for select works are managed through private channels and the Tropical Realism digital platform.
Amie Gooding
Raised amid the breathtaking landscapes of Bequia, Amie Gooding’s artistic voice was shaped by the island’s vivid colors, shifting light, and quiet natural rhythms. From golden sunrises to waves breaking gently along the shore, her surroundings became both canvas and catalyst, awakening a deep emotional connection to place.
It was within this enchanting island environment that her journey as a painter began—guided by intuition, observation, and a reverence for the everyday beauty of island life. Through her work, Amie seeks to capture the essence of Bequia, translating its warmth, movement, and spirit into painted form.
Her art is an invitation into a world of memory and imagination, where island dreams are preserved through color, texture, and feeling.
Rhea Cordice
From the shores of Bequia—where the ocean’s rhythm and ever-changing blues shaped her earliest memories—Rhea Cordice’s love for art was born. Raised in this coastal haven, where daily life unfolds in harmony with the sea, she found her muse in rolling waves, drifting boats, and the quiet poetry of island life.
The cadence of the ocean, the salt in the breeze, and the vibrant maritime palette of Bequia are deeply woven into her work. Each painting is an expression of that intimate bond—an homage to place, memory, and identity. Through her art, Rhea invites viewers into a world where sea and soul are inseparable, capturing the spirit of the island through movement, color, and emotion.
Rhea Cordice’s work was featured on the cover of Ins & Outs Magazine 2024, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.