81C is honored to announce a full scale art exhibition of abstract expressionism, with an opening celebration event on Friday, June 20, at its downtown location on Strand Gade in historic Charlotte Amalie.
The featured art exhibition showcases works by artist Augustin Kelvin Holder. The exhibition is entitled: Somewhere Between: Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Virgin Islands Abstraction
Show Description:
Somewhere Between, the solo exhibition by Virgin Islands artist Augustin Kelvin Holder signals a compelling advancement in abstract Caribbean expressionism. This collection, composed of bold strokes and layered symbolism, invites viewers into a realm where visual storytelling meets philosophical inquiry. Anchored by the presence of Mr. Nocturnal, Holder’s recurring symbolic figure, the exhibition navigates themes of personal myth, diasporic identity, and metaphysical transformation.
In Somewhere Between, Holder questions and redefines the perceived boundaries of the “Caribbean Aesthetic.” Drawing from his evolving dialogue with art theory and lived experience, the artist challenges viewers to see tropical imagery not as stereotype, but as language—one capable of speaking to migration, memory, and modernism. His work vibrates between personal diary and collective dream, abstract form, and sacred code.
This exhibition is a landmark moment in Holder’s decades-long artistic journey, offering new insight into a practice rooted in exploration, resilience, and mystique. Somewhere Between continues our commitment to championing visionary Caribbean artists who break molds and expand narratives.
—The Curators, 81C Arts, June 2025, Charlotte Amalie
Artist statement:
“My artwork is a juxtaposition of the unconscious and conscious mind. Painting in layers allows me to embrace the freedom that is associated with the Abstract Expressionism movement, and I feel the forms and techniques here give the work depth and texture. The intangible aspect of painting is what drives me to create work and my process unfolds naturally when I let my thoughts flow freely. I want my paintings to speak to the viewer long past their initial viewing or introduction.
Painting for me has always been a natural selection. I will share an anecdote:
An art teacher of mine provided an exercise, and the objective was to paint a flower without using paint. With the teacher’s guidance, we used soil to create a brown color, chlorophyll to create a green hue, and the natural dyes in flower petals to create secondary colors. This experience allowed me to associate art with freedom.”
-Augustin Kelvin Holder, June 2025, Charlotte Amalie
About the Artist:
Augustin Kelvin Holder is a multidisciplinary artist whose abstract works explore consciousness, identity, and cultural evolution through vivid color and expressive form.
A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Holder’s artistic development began in the Caribbean and expanded through studies at the University of the Virgin Islands, and expanded further to the University of Alaska and the University of Hawaii.
Holder spent two decades in New York City, where his immersion in art and culture deepened. He studied at the Art Students League of New York and conducted independent research at the Museum of Modern Art and The Brooklyn Museum. His diverse life experience—as a U.S. Navy veteran, culinary artist, and public servant—informs his visual language and narrative depth.
In the Virgin Islands, Holder has emerged as a powerful voice in contemporary Caribbean abstraction. His work has been exhibited at sevenminuseven, the Crucian Coconut Festival Fine Arts Exhibit, and featured in MOKO Magazine. His past solo exhibitions at 81C, including Beyond the Horizon and Intrepid Journey, reflect themes of transformation, memory, and collective resilience. Holder currently serves as a member of the executive staff under Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach.
Event Details:
Opening reception party for Somewhere Between: Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Virgin Islands Abstraction
Friday, June 20, 2025
5PM-10PM
Location: 81C –
81C KRONPRINDSENS GADE between Waterfront and Market Square on Strand Gade.
Parking and other info:
PARK ON WATERFRONT – Parking is available on waterfront near Moes, Asfour, and First Bank Areas. From there 81C is a short walk of 1-2 blocks.
Gallery hours:
Somewhere Between: Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Virgin Islands Abstraction is on view through September, 2025.
81C gallery hours are Mon-Fri (weekdays), 5-8PM.
Private group tours and youth group / student visits can be organized.
Please contact the gallery to make an appointment or inquire.
About 81C and 81C Arts:
linktr.ee/81cvi
81CVI.COM
@81CVI on instagram and facebook
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