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art Commerce meets creativity – Nine local artists partner with fast-food chain

Who would have thought that “unapologetically confident” could be used effectively in the same sentence to describe both artwork and food? But that’s exactly what is happening and applies equally to the nine Bahamian artists selected to work handin-hand with KFC.

KFC is using the exterior walls of its various venues as curated art space for the chosen artists to express their own unique visions and signature styles. Some of the commissioned artists are young emerging artists while others are more seasoned. They have each worked at one of the fast-food chain’s locations scattered across New Providence and were allowed complete individual freedom to create, the only criteria being that the work highlight their experience with one of KFC’s three new sandwiches.

“KFC is excited to work with this group of talented artists providing them with a unique way to demonstrate their skills and confidence through the New Kentucky Sandwiches initiative,” said Joanne Cates, director of marketing, KFC Nassau. “Utilising the restaurant walls as a new space for art gives KFC the opportunity to share these talents with the entire community.”

The nine chosen artists were the “Coffee Lady” Minolta Butler; the 17-year-old aspiring graphic designer Katlyn Rolle; the 18-year-old aspiring architect Tiffany Rutherford; realism artist Wedlear Eugene; ALIV’s Senior Art Director Theo McClain; graffiti artist and designer Dahar Butler; local abstract artist of Nigerian-Barbadian heritage, Deimé Ubani; veteran mural artist Allan Pachino Wallace, and airbrush pioneer Stefan Legend.

The thinking behind this new initiative is that showcasing emerging and established artists brings art into the real world - easily accessible for the general public; you shouldn’t have to go to an art gallery to see beautifully executed art.

Even though these murals depict something we all take for granted – food – and are not pieces hung in a gold frame in an art gallery, they are genuine and original fine artwork done by talented artists.

This suggests a different way forward into the future with the potential for aligning more innovative and creative methods in the land of business. More than ever in these challenging times, it is necessary to be collaborative, enterprising and forward-thinking. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

WEDLEAR Eugene gets creative at the Robinson Road location STEFAN Legend paints his mural at the South Beach location