Biography

Gillian Kennedy Wright is a Jamaican born, Canadian, American Lake Park, Florida visual artist. She received her Associates Degree in Graphic Design along with an informal minor in Textile/Fiber Design from Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts, Kingston, Jamaica.

Gillian’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Jamaica, Spain, Canada and the United States. Her work can be found in private and public collections in Jamaica, Spain, Canada, as well as in the United States.

She creates constantly in her home studio, better known as Kennedy Wright Designs LLC and is also an avid University of Florida, Palm Beach County, Master Gardener.

She continually focuses on both strata of her art, the bold, colorful whimsical illustrations; mixed media collages; home décor creations with Jamaica/Caribbean names and sayings. Along with her more serious mixed media fiber art pieces surrounding themes of multicultural faces, plants, patterns and architectural statements.

Curriculum Vitae

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Publications
  • Awards
  • Lectures
  • Education

2021 Cultural Council for Palm Beach County - Karibu Lake Worth, Florida
2020 Florida CraftArt Contemporary Fiber in Florida St. Petersburg, Florida
2019 The Cornell Art Museum Annual 6 x 6 Exhibition Delray Beach, Florida
2019 Continuum West Palm Beach Arts 2019 West Palm Beach, Florida
2018 Lighthouse Art Center Gallery, Elegant Threads: Wearable Art & Surface Design, Tequesta, Florida
2018 Collaboration IV African Diaspora, West Palm Beach, Florida
2018 Play with Your Food! Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, Collaborative: “Noodles for your Soul” from the Conversation Series Lake Worth, Florida
2017 Layered, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, Illinois
2017 Sketchbook, “An Exhibition of Artist’s Books” Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, Illinois
2017 Galeria Collective, Trackside @ Wymac, Wynwood, Miami, Florida
2017 Redeye Untamed, Art Serve Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2016 Collaboration African Diaspora: The Exhibition That Unifies People through their Artistic Spirit, Center for Creative Education Gallery, West Palm Beach, Florida
2016 Art Attack, Shot Gun House Project, Public Art, City of West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, Florida
2015 City of Parkland: Solo Exhibition Parkland, Florida
2010 Decorative Banners, Grace Episcopal, Church, Public Art West Palm Beach, Florida
2006 Decorative Banner, Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Public Art, Miami, Florida
2003 Stained Glass Design: Grace Episcopal Church, Public Art West Palm Beach, Florida
1995 Sans Souci Hotel, St. Mary, Jamaica
1992 World Trade Fair, Group Exhibition Seville, Spain
1991 Jamaican Consulate, Solo Exhibition Toronto, Canada
1989 Skandia, Solo Exhibition Kingston Jamaica

2021 Palm Beach Daily News, “Cultural Councils new exhibit celebrates local black artist” by Adriana Delgado, Palm Beach, Florida
2020 Florida CraftArt, “Contemporary Fiber in Florida,” St. Petersburg, Florida
2020 Shoutout Miami, “Meet Gillian Kennedy Wright: Contemporary Fiber Artist”
2018 The Palm Beach Post, “Playful food art show at Cultural Council” by Jan Sjostrom, West Palm Beach, Florida
2018 Palm Beach Florida Weekly, “Play with Your Food” Cultural Council show Explores an art-you-can-eat buffet by Gretel Sarmiento, West Palm Beach, Florida
2018 Voyage MIA, “Meet Gillian Kennedy Wright of Kennedy Wright Designs” Miami, Florida
2015 The Parklander, City of Parkland Magazine, Parkland, Florida
1991 Share Newspaper, “Jamaican Artist Exhibits Here”, Toronto, Canada

2018 Elegant Threads: Wearable Art & Surface Design, Honorable Mention Wearable Art “Afro Carib Mix” Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, Florida
1986 Best Photographic Student Award, Edna Manley School of the Visual Arts Kingston, Jamaica
1984 Color World Photographic Scholarship, Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts, Kingston, Jamaica

2018 Collaboration IV African Diaspora, Artist Talk West Palm Beach, Florida
2018 Table Talk, “Collectible” Series where art, food and conversation come together for a meal, Collaborative Lecture Marilyn Walter
2016 Collaboration II African Diaspora: Artist Talk Center for Creative Education Gallery, West Palm Beach, Florida

2015 ArtServe, Doing Business as an Artist Entrepreneur Seminar Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2008 Florida International University, Master of Science: Recreation and Sport Management, Graduate Diploma Training: Landscape Architecture, Miami, Florida
2003 Palm Beach Atlantic University, Bachelor of Science: Organizational Management & Certificate in Entrepreneurship Studies West Palm Beach, Florida & York University, Toronto, Canada
1986 Edna School for the Visual Arts, Associates Degree: Graphic Design Associate Degree Training: Textile Design, Kingston, Jamaica