The Antigua and Barbuda-based Botanique Studios, in partnership with The Water’s Edge Museum (Maryland, USA), brings the nation’s rich cultural traditions to the Artistic Islands Exhibition at Dublin Castle, Ireland (October 2, 2025 – March 22, 2026). The exhibition forms part of the Irish Artistic Islands Exhibition.
Curated by Dr. Barbara Paca, OBE, Cultural Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Artistic Islands brings Irish creativity and Caribbean traditions into a powerful dialogue of resilience, artistry, and shared heritage. The exhibition spans centuries and continents, presenting both historic and contemporary works that highlight how small islands carry vast worlds of imagination.
For this international presentation, Botanique highlights two of Antigua and Barbuda’s most unique cultural expressions: seedwork jewelry and the Empowerment Dolls.
- Seedwork Jewelry: Once endangered, seedwork, crafted from wild tamarind, jumbie beads, and other native seeds, is now revitalized and reimagined through contemporary artistry. Botanique’s Brand Ambassador, Iza Goodwin-Michael, is featured in the exhibition wearing signature seedwork jewelry and accessories (images courtesy Thomas Barzilay Freund). Leading the seedwork seminars in Dublin will be Louise Edwards, Master Seedwork Artisan, who has been central to reviving and teaching this African-rooted art form.
- Empowerment Dolls: Created under the direction of Mosia Challenger, Botanique’s textile designer, the dolls are reversible and symbolic, weaving together narratives of African heritage and historic Irish connections to Antigua and Barbuda. Challenger will serve as lead facilitator of the doll-making seminars, guiding participants in hands-on workshops. The accompanying photographs of the dolls are provided courtesy Mosia Challenger.
In linking these works to Antigua and Barbuda’s celebrated polymath Frank Walter (1926–2009), whose abstract paintings drew on the intricate patterns of traditional seedwork, Dr. Paca emphasizes the continuity between past and present. Walter’s legacy of protecting and elevating Antiguan cultural identity resonates with Botanique’s mission to preserve and share heritage through contemporary design.
The Artistic Islands program combines exhibitions, seminars, and family-friendly workshops. In Dublin, Botanique will co-host with The Water’s Edge Museum to deliver seedwork workshops (October 3–5, mornings 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) and Empowerment Doll seminars (October 3–5, afternoons 2:00–5:00 p.m.), inviting participants to experience these traditions hands-on.
“Artistic Islands reminds us that heritage is a living tradition, one that bridges past and present, the local and the global. Antigua and Barbuda’s seedwork jewelry and empowerment dolls beautifully demonstrate how small islands carry vast worlds of artistry within them.” — Dr. Barbara Paca, OBE, Guest Curator.
