Keith Wisdom

Born on the island of New Providence in Nassau, The Bahamas, Keith Wisdom is a retired stage director and television producer. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Drama and Theatre from Minnesota State University (Mankato), followed by an MFA in Performance and a Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from the University of Georgia (Athens).

After years in theatre and corporate advertising, Keith followed what he called a “persistent urge” to draw and paint. His Junkanoo-inspired works—vivid, intricate, and deeply cultural—are featured in collections across The Bahamas, the United States, Canada, and Hungary. His first solo exhibition took place in the early 1990s at the Long-Branch Gateway Gallery on Paradise Island, followed by numerous group shows.

A career setback became a turning point: losing his position as a theatre company manager ignited a period of intense creativity. “Painting saved me—saved my soul,” Keith recalls. For two years, his art became both his passion and livelihood.

Keith’s work captures the rhythm, color, and energy of Junkanoo and the Bahamian spirit. “My art is inspired by the creative essence of Junkanoo,” he says. “It lives in my soul—it’s who I am.”

Now living and painting in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Keith continues to evolve his vibrant Caribbean-inspired style. His most illuminating experience to date was his first U.S. solo exhibition at the renowned Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.