Celine Cashier
2nd Place Winner of the "Drawing Self-Emancipation" Youth Art Competition 2026
Artist bio
Celine Cashier is a young artist and a student at the Barbados community college with a passion for using art to explore identity, culture, history, and human experiences.
Her primary focus is painting , but she likes experimenting with different techniques and styles to communicate meaningful ideas through her work.
Her interest in art is driven by the desire to tell stories and create pieces that encourage viewers to think and connect with the subject. Through her work, she hopes to continue to develop her artistic voice.
Title of artwork: "Ripped Open: Possibilities"
Acrylic paint and mixed media
Artist Statement
This painting explores self-emancipation as more than a physical escape.
The boy seen in the painting is tearing himself from the paper that advertised him as property and is now rejecting the identity forced upon him. While the reverse side remains an ad, the other side symbolizes education, creativity, and freedom: The future he imagines for himself.
Although he has escaped, his fearful expression will remind us that freedom does not erase trauma. He looks toward the viewer with hope and uncertainty, carrying the weight of his past while reaching for a life.
Self-emancipating persons:
Collage of various advertisements from several issues (e.g., March 29, 1783; April 19, 1783).