Carmel Gumbs (b.1999) is a 21 year old caribbean-based contemporary artist who specializes in oil paint on panel, through the exploration of realism in portraiture and figure paintings. Carmel’s work reflects portions of his own life intertwined with his love for the ocean around his home island of Anguilla. Through his work he challenges the idea of self development and growth, with the aim of creating thought provoking topics for viewers to interpret and apply to their own views on life.
As a child, Carmel would regularly attend after school art classes where he learned how to make use of different art mediums such as ceramics, dyes and paints. Eager to dive deeper into Fine Art, Carmel began advancing his skills immediately after his completion of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprhensive School in September of 2016, when he was then enrolled at Ani Art Academy, a private art institute based on Anguilla. While attending Ani Art Academy, he was introduced to the Language of Drawing and the Language of Painting, a two part program designed by Trompe L’oeil painter, Fine Arts educator, and Fine Art curriculum designer, Anthony Waichulis. Carmel was then taught how to master the skill of drawing with charcoal and painting with oil paint. Over a 4 year span, Carmel has had the privilege of studying with and learning from master Fine Art educators like Timothy Jahn, Anthony Waichulis and other professional Fine Artists. Carmel’s current level of skill when producing masterful works of art were achieved by the constant practice of repetitive drawing and painting exercises to build his confidence and precision with each medium while enrolled at Ani.
Over the past three years Carmel’s work has begun to make international appearances in exhibitions and local open houses. His work has been show cased in the 2017 Capturing Realism Group Exhibiton in Dallas, Pennsylvania, USA, the 2019 IEYC Exhibition at the Saint George Hotel in Johanessburg, South Africa, the 2019 Enigma Group Exhibition at Lovettes Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA and most recently the 2020 Small Works Group Exhibition also at Lovettes Gallery.
Carmel first received recognition for his art when he won 1st place in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Pin Design Competition where his design was used as Anguilla’s brand image during the entire games held in Glasgow Scotland. In 2017 and 2018 he received consecutive Awards of Excellence at Ani Art Academy for his outstanding commitment and dedication to learning methods of producing Fine Art. In 2019, he placed 3rd in the 4th Annual Ani Art Academy Drawing Competition and he later went on to become a finalist in the 14th ARC Salon Competition 2019 as well as a finalist in the 2019 Anguilla National Youth Awards for Outstanding Youth in Visual Arts.
In July 2020, Carmel completed his studies at Ani Art Academy and immediately after, acquired his first legal business license to establish ‘Carmel Gumbs Studios’. As of recently Carmel’s work has been collected and hung in the homes of athletes like Lebron James and Anthony Davis and has been recognized by actresses like Gabrielle Union-Wade and Zoe Saldana via social media. It’s safe to say that Carmel has worked hard to acquire his level of professionalism not only when creating masterful works of art but also when catering to the needs of his clients and collectors. He surely intends to leave his mark throughout the art world.
CV
Carmel Gumbs
Born 1999| Based in Anguilla
Education
2016 – 2020 | Ani Art Academy, Crocus Hill,
Anguilla
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020- Electica | Ani Art Academy, Red Bank, NJ
2020- Small Works | Lovettes Gallery Tulsa, Oklahoma
2019- Enigma | Lovettes Gallery Tulsa, Oklahoma
– IEYC | Saint George Hotel Johanessburg, South Africa
2017- Capturing Realism | Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Dallas, Pennsylvania
Awards
2019- 14th ARC Salon Competition 2019 Finalist
– Anguilla National Youth Award 2019 finalist for Outstanding Youth in Visual Arts
– 3rd place in 4th Annual Ani Art Academy Drawing Competition
2018- Award of Excellence Ani Art Academy
2017- Award of Excellence Ani Art Academy
2014- 1st place in 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Pin Design
