Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on 3 August 1936, Lloyd George Rodney was regarded as one of the pioneers and masters of the modern Jamaican art movement. Although he rarely held solo exhibitions, his work was highly sought after and is represented in numerous private and institutional collections throughout Jamaica. 

 

Primarily known as a painter and draughtsman, Rodney developed a distinctive style characterised by semi-abstract compositions, geometric spatial arrangements, and a sophisticated interplay of colour and light. His reduced human figures, often rendered with a ghostly quality, contribute to the enigmatic atmosphere of his paintings. His exceptional draughtsmanship and strong compositional sensibility combine to produce what can be described as a “tropical form of Cubism.”

 

According to Archer Straw and Robinson (2011), Rodney’s works of the 1970s demonstrate a personal style marked by a “cool passivity.” Initially trained at the Jamaica School of Art, he further developed his practice at the Art Students’ League in New York. His painted canvases evoke the light, colour, and mood of the Jamaican landscape, while the interplay of shapes and planes invites viewers to explore the ambiguities and mysteries of each composition. In recognition of his contributions to Jamaican art, Rodney received the Institute of Jamaica’s Silver Musgrave Medal in 1975 and its Centenary Medal in 1981. 

 

Reflecting on the beginnings of his artistic journey, Rodney recalled his longstanding love of drawing and explained that watching the film Lust for Life, about Vincent van Gogh, and subsequently reading the book inspired him to pursue formal art training. He entered the Jamaica School of Art in 1957, initially intending to study commercial art. However, encouragement from his tutor, Kenneth Robertson, led him to pursue fine art painting more seriously. 

 

Rodney remained at the Jamaica School of Art until 1961 before travelling to New York to continue his studies at the Art Students League, Upon returning to Jamaica, he joined the Jamaica Broadcasting Company’s (JBC) as a graphic artist on Christmas Eve 1963. He also served as a part-time tutor at the Jamaica School of Art, now the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA), contributing to the development of subsequent generations of artists.

 

Rodney passed away on Thursday, 8 October 2026, two months after celebrating his 90th birthday, leaving behind a significant legacy within Jamaica’s modern art history.

 

Written by: Kevarney K.R.
Reference: Archer-Straw, Petrine and Kim Robinson. 2011. Jamaican Art: Then and Now (New Edition). Kingston: LMH Publishing Ltd.