I use the image of my painting the "Diver" as a primary armature. It’s a reference to the boys I saw jumping into Kingston harbor, but it’s also a reimagining of the Icarus myth. — Andrae Green
Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Andrae Green discovered the power of visual storytelling through Marvel and DC comic books—the primary art resources available during his youth. Growing up in a community navigating deep economic hardship, social upheaval, and violence, Green found a vital sanctuary within the distinct yet interconnected worlds of art, school, and church. These formative spaces kindled an expansive inner world, driving him to create speculative fiction and whimsical, sci-fi characters that became vessels for hope and boundless freedom. Today, these early experiences continue to ground his contemporary studio practice, striking a delicate, powerful balance between profound existential inquiry and visual resilience.
Now living and working from his studio in Avon, Connecticut, Green investigates the intricate emotional and spiritual landscapes of lived experiences, with a particular focus on the intimacy of family relationships and the universalization of the Black body. Rather than merely capturing historical events or linear narratives, his paintings convey deep psychological impressions. He weaves rich Judeo-Christian motifs with speculative fiction and figurative abstraction, refusing to dwell in despair; instead, his canvases illuminate vulnerability, optimism, and desire, speaking directly to a shared collective unconscious. Ultimately, his multi-material painting surfaces function as a holographic portal to healing, deep insight, and infinite possibility.
Green’s academic and professional journey is anchored by a BFA from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, a pursuit supported by a full tuition scholarship from the Chase Fund Jamaica. Currently an Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, Green’s career has taken on a vibrant global trajectory. He has represented Jamaica at the prestigious Beijing International Art Biennale on five distinct occasions and served as the U.S. representative at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.
His paintings have been exhibited internationally at the National Gallery of Jamaica, Maddox Gallery (Los Angeles), the Southampton Arts Center (New York), and in the curated presentation Against Dystopia at the Diane Rosenstein Gallery. Following a residency at the Boston Center for the Arts and a Second Prize distinction at the Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition, Green mounted his comprehensive solo exhibition, Paradise Mash-Up, at the Mills Gallery. His museum presence includes a major solo exhibition, Palindrome: Back to Hope, at the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Massachusetts, which formally acquired his masterwork Chasing Paradise for its permanent collection.
Green's work continues to gain prominent visibility across both public and institutional spheres, including a notable two-person presentation at NADA New York 2026 with Forgotten Lands. His paintings are held in esteemed permanent collections worldwide, including the National Art Museum of China, the Bank of Jamaica, Fidelity Investments (Boston), Royal Caribbean, and the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass Amherst. Looking forward, Green is expanding his studio footprints with an upcoming solo exhibition and summer residency at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Gallery 51, and a major solo exhibition at the Springfield Museum in 2027.
