By: Precious Mills
ABUJA, Nigeria (Wednesday 25th March 2026) — Well-known Nevisian artist Vaughn Anslyn has unveiled his African-inspired realism painting titled ‘Afro-Nevis’ being displayed at the pavillion section of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre as part of the activities for the hosting of the second annual ACL’s Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS) — 23rd to 28th March 2026 — being held in Abuja, Nigeria.
As understood, the piece incorporates acrylic paint, cardboard, and traditional madras fabric.
Addressing the audience ahead of the unveiling held on Monday 23rd March at the designated Arts and Cultural Centre, Anslyn described the work as a bridge between African heritage and Caribbean identity.
“It is a profound honor to stand among such a distinguished gathering here in Nigeria. As an artist from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, I am greatly moved to present this work titled Afro-Nevis. To share this piece in a land that holds the ancestral equity of my home feels like a symbolic homecoming.”
The painting depicts a mother carrying her young son and incorporates madras fabric to highlight Caribbean cultural identity.
“By physically weaving these real prints into a realistic portrait, I am performing an act of cultural preservation. The paint represents the individual spirit while the fabric represents the collective strength of our nation.”
In an exclusive interview with this media house following the unveiling, Anslyn explained that the painting was completed in six hours and without preliminary sketches.
“It’s acrylic on canvas with the inclusion of cardboard pieces and real madras. It took me six hours. I had no draft. I went straight into it and I got it right the first time.”
He said the work was inspired by African art observed during a recent exhibition in Miami and was created specifically for the summit.
“To be fair, I was recently in Miami where I did an exhibition there. But when I discovered how African art uses real fabrics and real elements in their work, I couldn’t wait to come back home to try it myself. And it just so happened that this summit came up. So between that and the idea of what I saw, I said I have to create a piece just for this summit.”
When asked about his vision for the art piece, Anslyn touched on symbolic and historical elements represented in the painting.
“I wanted to capture both the hardship of rural Africa as well as something symbolic with the Caribbean. The child holding on to the mother’s back — that’s how people usually carry their children in rural Africa. And then the intensity of her eyes. I spent a lot of time on the focus of the eyes just to get it right because I wanted to show that look of stability.”
He emphasized the broader historical connection between Africa and the Caribbean.
“For far too long the world has looked at our history only through the lens of tragedy. But when we change the lens we see a deeper, more complex truth. We must acknowledge that if it wasn’t for our history — if it wasn’t for slavery — our Caribbean would not exist. Our very identity, our unique culture and the people we are today were forged in that fire.”
In addition to Afro-Nevis, Anslyn currently has seven pieces on display at the exhibition for the duration of the summit, while ‘Afro-Nevis’ is expected to remain at the venue.
