To purchase Lynn Parotti works please contact the artist directly.
Lynn Parotti is preoccupied with the environment in all its multifaceted connotations. She has a consuming passion for the natural landscape of the Bahamas where she was born, particularly the intoxicating world of the ocean. But she is equally concerned with the social geography of place; the human experience and relationship to these locations, the historical traces, the economic and environmental impact and consequences. Her sensuous revelling in the beauty of nature is increasingly counter-balanced by a politicised awareness of its imperilled state due to climate change and the attendant crises of rising sea levels, the depletion of natural resources, the consequences of coral bleaching, the availability of clean water. She also references the human toll through allusions to migration, coastal communities, substance fishing and poverty.
People who live between two homes often possess a heightened awareness of the intricacies of those spaces they leave and return to. While based in London, Parotti is particularly attuned to the vulnerability of small island developing states. Her restless landscapes speak to the sublime beauty and eroding forces of nature but also their precarious condition. The push and pull of oil paint, its malleable and viscous potential and heightened colour, conveys an energy which is both sensuous and unsettling, a duality which references the uncertain condition of our contemporary existence in this world, but also the potential for renewal.
Lynn Parotti first studied painting at the State University of New York at Purchase where she received a BFA in 1990. She participated in the Artist’s Residency, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine in 1992 and subsequently completed an MFA in Painting and Printmaking at the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1993. From 1995 to 2007 she was Artist in Residence at The Chelsea Children’s Hospital School, London.
Early exhibitions include When the Bough Breaks at the Chelsea Arts Club, London (2007); Limit, a joint exhibition with her sister, artist Holly Parotti at Popop Studios International Centre for the Visual Arts in Nassau (2008); and The Force that Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower at the Imperial Wharf in London (2009). Parotti was one of five Bahamian artists included in the Caribbean Pavilion along with artists from Barbados and Martinique. Curated by David A. Bailey, the exhibition formed part of City States, staged at the Contemporary Urban Centre in conjunction with the Liverpool Biennial in 2010.
During 2015-16 Parotti’s work was exhibited in Nassau Calling: Art in the Bahamas (re)-visited at Hilger Brot Kunsthalle in Vienna, curated by Amanda Coulson and Ulrich Voges. The following year, she showed in Overseas: Cuba and the Bahamas. Contemporary art from the Caribbean, curated by Holly Bynoe and Antonio Eligio (Tonel) at Spinnerei Galleries in Leipzig.
Her work was also included in Relational Undercurrents: Contemporary Art of the Caribbean Archipelago curated by Tatiana Flores and exhibited at the Museum of Latin American Art in California, and subsequently at the Wallach Art Gallery in New York and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami (2017-18) followed by the Portland Museum of Art and The Delaware Art Museum (2019). Her paintings and photographs were shown in Arrivants: Art and Migration in the Anglophone Caribbean World, curated by Veerle Poupeye and Allison Thompson at the Barbados Museum 2018-19).
Parotti’s work has been exhibited frequently at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, including in the annual National Exhibitions since 2012 (NE5, NE6, NE7, NE8). She is represented in a number of private as well as public collections including the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.
Recent solo exhibitions focused on the effects of global warming on corals and reefs; Time Under Tension at the D’Aguilar Art Foundation in Nassau, The Bahamas, (February 7-March 18, 2019) and 2 Degrees C at The Current: Baha Mar Gallery, Scope Art Show, Miami Beach, (December 3-8, 2019).
Parotti has recently had her solo show Inherit the Earth at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, (April 16–Oct. 17, 2021). Inherit the Earth explored human’s contribution to climate change and to the Anthropocene. This was followed by her participation in the group show The Other Side of the Pentaprism at Tern Gallery in Nassau, (Aug 26-Oct. 30, 2021.)
Parotti is busily preparing for a joint show to be announced shortly.
Allison Thompson, PhD. Barbados, 2021
Work in Collections
The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, Nippon Oil Exploration UK Ltd., Tail Wind Advisory Management Ltd., Goldman Sachs Investment Bank, High Commissions of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Washington, New York and London, Grand Bahama Port Authority, Bahamas Maritime Authority, London & New York, Wilmott Dixon, London, International Private Collections including The D’Aguilar Foundation, The Dawn Davies Collection, His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, GCMG, former Governor-General, Bahamas.
Awards and Grants
1995-1999
London Arts Board Funding Programmes (yearly grants) – Arts Education Projects. Visual arts workshops at the Chelsea Children’s Hospital School, The Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Collingham Gardens Child and Family Unit. Project Titles: Create Whilst Healing & Life Celebrations.
1997-1999
London Borough of Ealing Grant Aid (yearly grants) – Corporate Resources Group, Ealing in partnership with Arts for Everyone, Lottery Funding. Conducted a year long visual arts residency programme in Ealing schools and provided visual arts workshops at the Pitshanger Manor Museum and Gallery for the academic year.
1996
London Arts Board Funding Programmes 1996 – 98 – Local Authority Art Education. Provided Arts Education Day for schools at the Pitshanger Manor Gallery Ealing, for the academic year.
1993
Phi Kappa Phi Honour Society, Virginia Commonwealth University.
1992
Artist’s Fellowship Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Maine.
1991-92
Graduate Assistantship for three semesters Virginia Commonwealth University. Full tuition waiver and monthly stipend.
1990
President’s Award for Visual Arts State University of New York.
1985-92
Scholarships Lyford Cay Foundation, Nassau, Bahamas.
1985-87
Merit Scholarship College of Mount St Vincent, Riverdale, NY.
1984-85
Scholarships Esso Standard Oil Art Competitions, Nassau, Bahamas.
Artist’s Residencies and Charitable Projects
2018 Jan
Shortlisted for VARI (V&A Research Institute) Opening the Cabinet of Curiosities Artist Residency, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Uncovering the objects within the collection which were funded by the fruits of the slave trade.
2014-15 Dec 1 – Mar 30
Commissioned to paint ten large scale murals for ESPA at Baha Mar, the New Bahamian Riviera in Nassau, Bahamas. Large abstract works focusing on light, ocean currents, tidal traces in sand, the Bahamas’ historical links to sea, and water caves. Completed works called The Luces Series to be hung throughout the Reception, Retail, and Relaxation Sections of the ESPA (Spa). In addition large scale works were also painted for the Casino, the Convention Centre and for the Rosewood Hotel.
2007-95
Artist in Residence The Chelsea Children’s Hospital School, London. Responsible for creative visual art workshops for paediatrics at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, St.Mary’s and Collingham Gardens Child and Family Psychiatric Unit. Responsible for creative visual art workshops at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Collingham Gardens Child and Family Unit. Project Titles ‘Life Celebration I-IV’ and ‘Create whilst Healing’ are issue-based, dealing with topics like racism, bullying, environmental conservation, nature and art, artists, personal identity and body image through the creative arts.
2006
Buddy Baer Berlin GmbH sponsored by Dr. Hartwig Piepenbrock, Honorary Consul, to design and paint a 2m tall fibreglass bear for the Bahamas in the United Buddy Bears’ global tour to promote international tolerance and co-existence and raise money for children in need together with UNICEF.
1992
Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Maine Juried New York Residency during Summer: 65 emerging artists under the tutorial of international artists in Maine.
Broadcasting
2015
Paintings, Studio and Roof Top Garden featured on Britain’s Best Back Gardens: Alan Titchmarsh’s five favorites, ITV, UK, In which Alan Titchmarsh reveals his ten favourites in the most challenging category.
2014
Blank Canvas Radio Show with Amanda Coulson & the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, April.
2013
BBC Great British Garden Revival: Topiary and Rooftops, BBC2, UK. James Wong uncovers the hidden horticultural past of the capital’s rooftops, visits Lynn Parotti who has moved her entire garden to her rooftop apartment…” Paintings and garden featured.
2006
Destination Lunch Overseas Property TV, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism of the Bahamas, Sky Television.
Bahamas Week in Como Espansione TV, AL 9000, Italy, June 7th.
Modern Art Replaces Lost Property Featuring Time & Tide paintings British Satellite News, London, Jan.
2002
Radio interviews discussing Parotti Views Exhibition, Love 97 and 102.9 Island FM, Nassau,Bahamas, Aug.
1997
30 minute feature of private view of Currents Exhibition, The Multicultural Channel, London.
Bibliography
2016
The Nassau Guardian, Apathy, Antipathy, and Action
The Arc Magazine, NAGB National Exhibition 8
2014
Blank Canvas Radio Show with Amanda Coulson & the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.
Art with Conscience – An Interview with Lynn Parotti, by Amy Bell in La Revista, The British Spanish Society Magazine (UK), issue 237, summer pg.25 various paintings featured including Thirst.
2011
Milgate, Marcia. “Water, water everywhere”, Real Life, Caribbean. July.
2009
Watson, Andrea. “Art of Good Design”, The Daily Express, London. Jun 12th.
2008
Pretty Flamingos Lloyd’s List, London, Nov.
Rutherford, Thea. Parotti Sisiters Take it to the Limit, The Nassau Guardian, Bahamas, April 12th.
“Prints and paintings… “An Expression of the links between natural and manmade forces”, The Tribune, Nassau, April 16th.
2007
Brewer, James. Ecological Strains and Fierce Human EmotionsBubble to the Surface Lloyd’s List, London, Jun. 22nd.
Oldman, Alison. When the Bough Breaks :A Nature Painting to Rock Your World Ham & High, London, Jun.14th
Burrows, Petura. “Parotti’s ….appreciation of the sensuous possibilities of oil paint”. The Tribune, Nassau, June 6t
2006
Faces, Colours and Textures La Giovane Pittura Bahamiana, Corriere Della Sera, Italy, Jun.
La Bahamas conquisatano il Lario, Corriere di Como Italy, May.
Burrows, Petura. Using Her Artistic Talent for a Charitable Cause The Tribune. Nassau, Bahamas, Apr.
Bahamian Artist to show Spirit of Bahamas at World Cup The Bahama Journal, Arts & Entertainment, Apr.
2005
Brewer, James. Out of Death Comes an Appreciation of Life Lloyd’s List, London, Nov 3rd.
Brewer, James. Threatened Reefs that Reflect the Fragility of the Human Species Lloyd’s List, London, Feb.
2003
Torelli, Umberto. Idee di Stagione, Quest’ estate vado all’estero Corriere della Sera, Milano, Italy, Jun.
2002
Mather, Janice. See Seascapes Anew with Parotti Views The Nassau Guardian, Bahamas, Aug.
Review of exhibition, Parotti Views The Tribune, The Miami Herald, USA, Aug.
Sisters Make their Views Clear The Tribune, Nassau, Bahamas, Aug.
Bexon, Tina. Artists in Residence The Evening Standard, London, Jun.
1999
Lyford Cay Exhibit Brings Together Four Diverse Painting Styles The Tribune, The Miami Herald, USA.
Qualifications
1995-96
Training for Artists in Schools Institute of Education, University of London. A course for Artists’ Residencies in schools, galleries and other venues in conjunction with the London Arts Board.
1991-93
Master of Fine Arts Degree in Painting & Printmaking Summa cum laude, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
1987-90
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting Summa cum laude, State University of New York at Purchase, New York.
1985-87
College of Mount Saint Vincent Riverdale, New York.