Artist Statement

My art is guided by my heritage. The colors, the warmth, the textures, and all the small details that feel like home. Each piece carries its own quiet story, rooted in identity. I’m drawn to ordinary scenes that hold a kind of magic when you slow down enough to see them. I create with the awareness that I am walking a path my ancestors could not. The ones who weren’t allowed to be artists, who never had the space to dream this boldly. As a Black woman, an immigrant, I paint for them too, the ones who held the stories but couldn’t put them on canvas. My work is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect. It’s culture, storytelling, and gratitude expressed through my eyes, layered in nostalgia, stories, and imagination.

Biography

Chardel is a Jamaican-born, self-taught painter based in Connecticut. Specializing in acrylic on canvas, she draws inspiration from her Caribbean heritage, infusing her work with the vibrant energy and timeless charm of vintage island life. Her art merges her love for textures, fashion, bold colors, and interior design, creating pieces that celebrate her diverse passions.

Chardel’s artistic journey is personal and rooted in her cultural identity. Born in Jamaica, she moved to the United States at the age of 10 and later returned to her homeland at 21. During that visit, she spent a transformative month reconnecting with the beauty of everyday life; the colorful houses, local shops, tropical trees, fresh fruits, and the serenity of the sea and stars. This experience ignited a deep appreciation for the simple yet beautiful details of her heritage, inspiring her to capture these moments on canvas.

Her work honors the essence of Caribbean culture, telling stories that celebrate the beauty in the ordinary. Over the past several years, Chardel has been developing her craft, assembling a collection that reflects her love for art and her cultural roots. Through her paintings, she invites viewers to embrace the richness of her world and the joy of finding beauty in simplicity.

SOLO EXHIBITION

Feels Like Home — Sound View Penthouse — 2025 Bridgeport, CT

GROUP EXHIBITION 2026

Culture Con — Duggal Greenhouse — Brooklyn, NY
2nd Lat-Am & Caribbean — Stamford Art Association — Stamford, CT
Small Works, Big Impact — The 203 Art Space — Stamford, CT
Dream In Full View — Ferguson Library — Stamford, CT

GROUP EXHIBITION 2025

The World Is On Fire — Arcade Mall — Bridgeport, CT
Bridgeport Art Trail — Read’s Art Space — Bridgeport, CT
1st Lat-Am & Caribbean — Stamford Art Association — Stamford, CT
Small Works, Big Impact — The 203 Art Space — Stamford, CT

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

Can I Call You Love — 2026 — Bridgeport, CT
Golden Hour Exhibit — 2025 — Bridgeport
Sound View Open House Artist — 2025 — Bridgeport, CT
Vision Board Workshop — 2024 — Bridgeport, CT
Vision Board Workshop — 2023 — Bridgeport, CT
Simple Life Exhibit — The Knowlton — Bridgeport, CT

Residencies & Special Projects

2022 – Healing Art, Atlanta, GA
2021 – Organic, Port Antonio, Jamaica

CHARDEL STUDIO

Founder & Studio Director