Maia Muttoo is a cultural professional interested in the role of arts-based storytelling and programming in education and community. She is Head of Programmes at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, where her work builds public engagement with the National Art Collection, the work of Caymanian, Cayman-based and diasporic visual artists, and broader cultural education through programmes and resources. Muttoo holds an MA with distinction in Cultural and Creative Industries from King’s College, London, and a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Toronto. She is the recipient of a Heritage Cross Award (Mid-Career) at the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s 2023 National Arts and Culture Awards.

This route starts and ends with cultural institutions that have been core to the development of Cayman’s visual arts scene. Kick off with a contextual first museum stop at the National Gallery for a foundational look at the way Cayman’s art has evolved, then travel to central George Town, where you can park the car and walk between four venues that range from the ephemeral to the grounded. Finally, end at the Mind’s Eye Cultural Centre, where the Cultural Foundation’s long-term efforts to preserve iconic intuitive artist Miss Lassie’s cottage are on display.

• Mind’s Eye Centre
The Vibe: A dreamlike, oceanside ode to intuitive expression. 
The Context: The former home of Gladwyn K. “Miss Lassie” Bush, now known as ‘Mind’s Eye’, sits at the intersection of Walkers Road and South Sound Road. This circa-1800s wattle-and-daub cottage may seem unassuming, but its bright blue painted shutters offer a clue at the cultural treasure that lies beyond its humble walls. Inside, Caymanian heritage intersects with intuitive visual art practice in the form of Lassie’s stunning frescoes. In the adjacent ocean-side bungalow is Unseen Ordinary – a contemporary mixed media exhibition by Leanna Lewis that focuses on familiar yet ignored environments.

• National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
The Vibe: Cultural icons meet emerging voices.
The Context: At the National Gallery’s modern museum building off the Esterly Tibbetts Highway, there’s something for every kind of art enthusiast. From the loosely chronological exploration of Cayman’s visual art history in Evolutions: Continuity & Change in Caymanian Art to the rhythmic canvases of Randy Chollette: Conversations in the 7th Dimension, and the celebration of young perspectives in Next Wave: Emerging Voices in Cayman Art. Follow your visit with a stroll in the sculpture gardens or a cup of coffee at the self-serve Art Café.

• Martlet Designs
The Vibe: Sawdust and chisels in a homey, functional woodshop.
The Context: Go behind the scenes at this operational furniture and cabinetry workshop, where humble planks of wood are transformed into elegant and custom designs. Tucked away behind the historic Merren property in central George Town, Martlet Design feels like a true hidden gem where you can glimpse the process behind the product. 

• Look Closer at Island House Interior Design
The Vibe: It’s all in the details.
The Context: Look Closer brings together small-format works by Cameron Bridgeman, David Bridgeman, Chris Mann and Jo Austin that challenge perspective by encouraging viewers to zoom in on the small details of a scene. The exhibition is set within the curated eclecticism of Island House Interior’s George Town boutique, where the culture of life in the Caribbean is envisioned through various elements of interior design and décor.

• What the Light Remembers at Whale Rider Records
The Vibe: An ephemeral and sensory experience anchored in the analogue.  
The Context: This collaborative project between Bryony Dixon and Eleanora Alis Tofte is located within the musical setting of Whale Rider Records, an intimate vinyl bar with reaching views over the historic George Town Harbour. Sink into the textures of analogue music as you contemplate how light transforms pattern, memory and story through meditative photographic and mixed-media work installed on glass surfaces throughout the space.

• Where We Gather at The Well
The Vibe: Grounded.
The Context: Hosted at integrated medical and movement clinic, The Wellin Bayshore Mall, Where We Gather brings together Jenna Arnold, Larissa MacLean and Yonier Powery for a one-night-only exhibition that encourages