Additional information
| Artist | Gunter |
|---|---|
| Category | African-American |
ArtistGuter, Lester
Artist Years1936-living
TitleSchool Outing in the Blue Mountains
Year1966
MediumPainting > Oil
DimensionsCanvas: 30 X 36 inches
Description
Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left.
Accession NumberRC1772
NotesLester Gunter is an acclaimed Jamaican-American painter born in 1936 in Trinity Ville, Saint Thomas, Jamaica. The son of a goldsmith, Gunter became a prominent figure in the modern Jamaican art movement, recognized for his vibrant representations of Caribbean life, lush tropical landscapes, and deeply expressive series of nudes.
He received a rigorous, classical art education spanning multiple prestigious institutions across Jamaica and the United States: Jamaica School of Art (1958–1963), the Art Students League of New York (1968–1970 and studied under Robert Brackman, Jacob Lawrence and Barrington Watson.
His ultimate artistic philosophy was deeply shaped by Edna Manley, the "mother of Jamaican art." Responding to her call for national identity, Gunter focused his vision inward to paint Jamaican iconography, black countenances, and local genre scenes with immense cultural pride.
Gunter's work is characterized by a bold, representational style featuring powerful figurative imagery, narrative weight, and rich color palettes.