IN THE COCOON
9 - 18 May 2026
Curated by Emma Miles
In the Cocoon emerges from a period of abrupt interruption. Following a serious injury in 2025 that left the artist unable to walk for months, Sutherland Wade’s recovery was shaped by a wider moment of disruption, unfolding alongside Hurricane Melissa.
The exhibition asks: what happens when the world stops? What continues to grow and take shape in the midst of loss and devastation - and in the quiet that follows?
At its core, In the Cocoon centres on the idea of the cocoon as a space of retreat, protection and transformation. From her hilltop home in Stony Hill, surrounded by her garden, mountains and sweeping views of Kingston and St. Andrew, Sutherland Wade creates from a place of calm and deep connection to her environment.
Earlier works are revisited, reworked and re-encountered, where they continue to inform and speak to the artist’s evolving way of seeing. Through her signature use of colour and simplified, patchwork-like forms, she invites us into this space - encouraging us to see as she sees, and to share in the sense of peace that shapes her practice.
In the Cocoon marks Sutherland Wade’s third consecutive exhibition at her home studio. With 79 works on display, it stands as a testament to the artist’s endurance and commitment to continue seeing, making and sharing.
Heather Sutherland Wade (Manchester, Jamaica, 1948) is a Jamaican fine artist and graphic designer whose practice centres on conveying the beauty and sense of peace she experiences in her surroundings. Through her explorative use of colour and form, her work invites contemplation, leaving space for viewers to engage on a personal level and form their own impressions.
Sutherland Wade’s journey in Fine Arts began at the Alberta College of Art in Canada, where she was awarded a four-year scholarship to study Advertising Art. It was there that she discovered painting and began to develop her distinctive style, which she describes as “impressionistic, but somewhat abstract”. Her work spans a range of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, flora and townscapes.
Shortly after returning to Jamaica in 1970, Sutherland Wade debuted at the Bolivar Gallery in Kingston. She has since exhibited locally and regionally across Jamaica and the Caribbean, as well as internationally in the United States, Canada, China, Mexico and Italy. Her work has been presented in institutions including the National Gallery of Jamaica, the Queens Park National Gallery, the Bolivar Gallery and IDB Cultural Centre. Over the past several years, she has presented a series of exhibitions at her home studio in St. Andrew, Jamaica.
AN EVENING AT SUNNYSIDE: Archiving Practice
As part of our programming of In the Cocoon, Heather Sutherland Wade and I hosted an intimate Artist Evening at Sunnyside, with a focus on archiving practice.
The gathering created a space for artists and cultural practitioners to connect, and also to reflect on the importance of the artist archive and archiving practice. Artists were encouraged to bring along any archival materials to reflect on during the discussion - these included sketchbooks, photographs, artworks, writing materials, journals.
Invited guests: Marina Burnel, Shannon Chen See, Antwain Clarke, Carol Crichton, Acquille Dunkley, Lester Facey, Fiona Godfrey, Gianna Jahziel, Richard Nattoo, Sana Rose, Dr. Verona Barnes
