Bahamian artist Angelika Wallace-Whitfield paints 4 murals of 'Icon of the Seas'

A local artist from the Bahamas, Angelika Wallace-Whitfield, painted a total of four murals on Royal Caribbean International's largest Ship - the Icon of the Seas. The artist has recently collaborated with Royal Caribbean to add some Caribbean flair to several ships in its fleet. While painting the murals, she took inspiration from island life, which gave a significant boost to the island nation. [caption id="attachment_66754" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Icon of the Seas[/caption] During an exclusive interview, the 31-year-old inspiring artist outlined, "So, for the four murals, I was looking a lot at Bahamian flora and sort of marine life, a lot of shells and seaweed for the ones you see in front of us and behind me, a lot of natural Bahamian foliage, things that sort of appear in the bushes around us." She highlighted that it meant a lot to her to be a Bahamian artist and have these large-scale works on board. Whitfield added that she thinks a lot of the Bahamian art world is up and coming, and it is nice to be able to contribute to putting it on an international scale in her own way.

Wallace-Widfield says that she was able to paint these murals over four days. She also has this advice for any up-and-coming Bahamian artists.

While advising the youth of the Bahamas to explore their creativity, she said, "Keep practising, you know, art making is an art practice. Keep putting yourself out there, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and you can't get it wrong, you know, like art is something that's always right, you know, and very objective."

Notably, the young female also joined the Bahamian officials for the traditional plaque exchange ceremony aboard the Icon of the Seas as she made her incredible debut at Nassau Cruise Port on January 18.

She was accompanied by Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, & Aviation; Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International; Captain Henrik Loy of Icon of the Seas; Craig Curtis, Assistant Port Controller at the Port Department and Andrew Malone of United Shipping Company.

[caption id="attachment_66753" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Angelika Wallace-Whitfield with other officials to join the ceremony aboard Icon of the Seas[/caption]

Wallace-Whitfield runs a full-time business as a mural painter and finds time to work on her painting practice in the evenings and on weekends (until now!). Her murals are found at the Mexicaba, The Island House, Evolve Gym and The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, to name a few.

She is also the artist behind the ta' 'HOPE IS A WEAP'N' scattered around Nassau in various spots, including sidewalks, The NAGB, and POPOPstudios in Chippenham.