Roland Richardson

Who is Roland Richardson?

Sir Roland Richardson was born in 1944 into a family whose Caribbean roots on the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten trace back to the 1700s, a family long involved in local government, agriculture, and the introduction of modern utilities and aviation to the island. In 1957 he moved with his brothers to New London, Connecticut, and trained formally at the Hartford Art School before returning to make the island his lifelong subject. Working almost exclusively from life, Richardson became known internationally for vivid, light-filled landscapes, seascapes, and portraits capturing the colors and traditions of the Caribbean, and he is widely regarded as the "Father of Caribbean Impressionism." His paintings have been collected by prominent figures including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Harry Belafonte, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. In 2007 he was knighted by Queen Beatrix for his lifelong artistic contribution to the community, and his gallery in Marigot has stood for decades as a cultural landmark on the island. Richardson's body of work is credited with documenting and preserving the visual heritage of St. Martin/Sint Maarten across more than half a century of rapid development.

Sources: RolandRichardson.com, "About the Artist" · Grand Case Beach Club, "Sir Roland Richardson" profile · Visit St Maarten, "Roland Richardson" artist profile