Collection: Richard Nattoo - Jamaica

Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica to a shopkeeper and an auto mechanic in 1993, Richard Nattoo has always had an interest in colour, texture, form and shape. Lacking positive outlets for expression in his community, Richard was very guarded about his love of art. He quietly studied various influences, resulting in a style all his own.

Early in his career, Richard found an unusual canvas for his creations: public transportation. The flamboyant Coaster buses that served passengers along the Portmore and Spanish Town routes always needed well-designed sticker decals. They were a welcome outlet for the artist whose acclaim grew among bus operators and within his own community as well. Richard’s unlikely foray into that world gave him the confidence to further develop his innate talent. With timely encouragement from his Ardenne High School art teachers, who exposed him to global art styles and local luminaries in the field, he decided to become a fine artist.

Nattoo’s works vary wildly in theme, content and style, and are done in mediums such as watercolour, glass, pen and ink. He has garnered praise for his surreal, dreamlike creations that explore universal human emotions on a raw, cerebral level. Ultimately, he examines the tumultuous yet common inner space that we tend to build with our respective hopes, dreams and fears.

As a recent graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Technology Jamaica, Richard Nattoo uses his acquired competencies to bolster his work in a way little seen in the local art landscape. Though still a young man, he has been showcasing his pieces since 2012. including several premier exhibitions at the National Gallery of Jamaica: Jamaica Biennial (2014), Young Talent (2015), and Digital (2016). He is a regular contributor to the Kingston on the Edge festival, most notably Explorations II (2015). Other exhibitions include Lost in the Echo (2016), Sensory (2019), Fragility (2019) and Fragility II (2019). His thematic explorations unfold piece by piece like chapters in a book.

Richard is a recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister Youth Awards in the Category of Arts and Culture.