In a major cultural milestone for the Spice Isle, Grenada has secured its first-ever entry into the permanent collection of the Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C.
The winning piece, Salt of the Earth, Daughter of the Soil (2026) by Queens-based Grenadian artist Shervone Neckles-Ortiz, was formally presented on October 14, 2026, by Senator the Hon. Adrian Thomas, Minister of Tourism, the Creative Economy and Culture. The selection followed a national competition organized by Grenada's Permanent Mission to the OAS alongside museum leadership.
About the Artwork
The two-panel handmade paper assemblage serves as a powerful tribute to Grenadian women, ancestral lineage, and agricultural heritage:
Salt of the Earth: Incorporates Sea salt and a repurposed family table covering, evoking domestic life and inherited memories.
Daughter of the Soil: Integrates iconic Grenadian spices including nutmeg, mace, clove, and bay leaf alongside a 1940s photograph of the artist’s maternal grandmother in Grenada.
Speaking at the handover ceremony alongside OAS Assistant Secretary General Her Excellency Laura Gil, Museum Director Ms. Adriana Ospina, and Grenada’s Ambassador to the OAS His Excellency Tarlie Francis, Minister Thomas underscored the government’s commitment to growing the creative economy.
He highlighted Grenada's deliberate structural focus on culture and art as key economic drivers, emphasizing ongoing efforts to preserve Afro-descendant and Indigenous traditions while propelling contemporary Grenadian artistes onto global platforms.
Ms. Neckles-Ortiz who previously represented Grenada at the 2019 Venice Biennale and received the 2025 Brendan Gill Prize—presented the piece at the Grenadian Embassy prior to the museum installation, capping off a landmark moment in Grenadian cultural diplomacy.
Source GIS Grenada
