About Andre

My work is an amalgam of sources and influences. That said I am only interested in making work that I need to make not to try to please.

I am Trinidad born and bred. I grew up drawing and carving: my imagination fuelled by a mix of African, Amerindian and European culture. The clash of religions and folklore provided a fertile ground / repository for my art making.

Our carnival, with its J’ouvert celebration which uses everyday items in clever ways to create powerful imagery and the more refined beautiful costume making has stayed with me.

Moving to NYC in the 80’s added more flavor to my artistic pot. Be it at the 92 st Y, Art students League, Hunter College and then a BFA from the School of Visual Arts.

All the while my love of music from calypso to reggae to punk etc flowed through my work together with politics and race issues.

Everyday objects, from garbage to broken glass, photographs or a word or sentence can be the catalyst for me to create. Textures, smooth soft “ugly” provide my work with energy; so too sometimes my use of overlapping imagery. Faces and expressive shapes (which I see everywhere), the movement of the body, invention, distortion are some things which “conspire” as I strive for simplicity, power, beauty and expressiveness in my images.

An active musician/ and singer with the band Mephiskapheles and co-founder of the lifestyle brand Morgan & Kydd.

Based in NYC and the North Fork of Long Island