Bill Ming Art Exhibition To Open In March 2025

Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art announced that ‘Bermuda: Stories in Memory’ — an exhibition of new collage works by Bermudian artist Bill Ming — will be opening in the Rick Faries Gallery on March 14, 2025.

A spokesperson said, “Masterworks is proud to partner with Bermudian curator Daisy Gould, who has instigated and guest-curated the exhibition and accompanying publication. Ming’s new suite of works on show are deeply rooted in Bermuda’s history and culture as well as Ming’s memories of growing up on the island.

“While Ming is locally known best for his sculptural and assemblage works, this new body of work, created between 2023-24, focuses on Ming’s collage practice. An important element of his artistic oeuvre for many years, Ming’s collages incorporate maps, popular images, scans of foraged foliage, pages from books, and even elements from old works. Created in his studio in Newark, UK, where he has lived since the 1970’s, this new body of work is in many ways a return home to Bermuda for the 80-year-old artist.

“In its myriad forms, Ming’s work continuously contributes to local and global conversations on identity, ecology, migration, and cultural hybridity. His work serves as a powerful tool for reclaiming narratives, challenging stereotypes, and asserting agency in the face of historical and contemporary challenges – doing so with humour and grace. By capturing the spirit, resilience, and creativity of Bermuda, Ming’s work aims to not only enrich cultural discourse but also serve as a catalyst for social change and collective empowerment.

“All works in Bermuda: Stories in Memory will be available for purchase in person at Masterworks and through the Rick Faries Gallery website. The Shop at Masterworks will also feature a limited-edition run of prints.

“Masterworks is also pleased to share that a publication featuring the works in the exhibition and texts by local writers will be released in the new year. Generously funded by the Bermuda Arts Council and Coralisle Group Ltd. [CG] and edited by Daisy Gould, the book will shed light on Ming’s profound impact as an artist, highlighting his role in shaping regional and international artistic narratives. Through insightful analysis and a comprehensive image-based exploration of his recent body of work, the publication will underscore Ming’s enduring legacy and his importance to Bermudian visual culture.

“Bill Ming was born in Bermuda and settled in England in 1971. He studied at Mansfield College of Art from 1971-6, and gained his degree in Sculpture and Creative Writing from Maidstone College of Art in 1979.

“Best known for his sculptures and assemblage works that blur the line between sculpture and collage, Bill was the first Black artist Henry Moore Sculpture Fellow at John Moores University in 1992-93 and was part of the groundbreaking exhibition The Caribbean Connection in 1995, which is widely recognised as one of the first exhibitions dedicated to the display of Caribbean art in London. His exhibition Homecoming was one of the inaugural exhibitions of the Bermuda National Gallery in 1994 and his public sculptures can be found all over the island.

“As a sculptor, Ming draws inspiration from personal experiences and a rich cultural heritage that originated in Africa, the Americas and Europe. His work draws on his transcultural memories and experiences, most recently connecting deeper with his home country of Bermuda. Ming uses wood and various materials to create cultural collages which reflect the physical and spiritual aspects of life in all forms.

“Daisy Gould is a Bermudian curator, researcher, and consultant based in London. She is currently Assistant Curator of Live Programmes at Serpentine Gallery where she also works on the Ecologies programme. Daisy was previously a member of the Hayward Gallery and Tate curatorial teams and her ongoing academic and curatorial research focuses on Caribbean art and theory, with a specialism in contemporary Bermudian art. She holds a BA in Art History from the University of Richmond and a Masters in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Key Dates:

• Exhibition Dates: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, May 10, 2025
• Curator’s Talk with Daisy Gould: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
• Artist Talk with Bill Ming: Thursday, March 20, 2025
• Artist Workshop: Details to be announced in 2025

Exhibition Webpage: masterworksbermuda.org/bermuda-stories-in-memory | Artist Details: billming.com.

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