Al Ebanks is a self-employed Caymanian Artist. Al studied art at the Cayman Islands High School and over the years has developed a style on his own, building on lessons learned in school. He has attended many workshops hosted by the local Visual Arts Society, the National Gallery and other visiting professional artists. Al made the decision to begin painting seriously in 1989.He best describes his work as a fresh twist of abstract and impressionist art. In addition to his wide range of paintings Al is also a talented sculptor in stone, wood, bronze and ceramics. As an artist he is dedicated to refining his abilities and is always eager to extend his knowledge.In 1995 Al was fortunate to receive a scholarship from the National Cultural Foundation to study stone and clay sculpturing, an added bonus to his already mature style using charcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas. Later that year he was honored to be asked to design and sculpt the “Radley Gour- zong Award”, which is presented to a person who has made extraordinary contributions to the arts and Caymanian culture. Al is proud to be one of the founding members of the Native Sons Art Group, a group of artists established in 1996 to develop and promote Caymanian artists.Al’s main occupation was interior decorating, however, after building his own studio in 1990 he has dedicated the greater part of his time to art. The majority of Al’s artwork can be seen in his studio gallery. There are also permanent collections of the artist’s work found locally at the National Museum of the Cayman Island and the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands as well as work for sale internationally at Griffin Gallery in Chicago and the Sherry Frontenac Hotel in South Beach, Florida where he signed various pieces that were purchased by avid art enthusiasts. Al traveled to Miami in early 2004 for a solo show at the Jackie Gleason Theater in South Beach, Miami, Florida. To add to his ever-growing talent, his work was chosen to grace the homes depicted in the new movie Haven, which was directed by Caymanian filmmaker, Frankie Flowers.In the latter months of 2004 his artistic ability was again rewarded with the receipt of a grant to attend a course on bronze casting in Tuscany, Italy.In 2005 he was chosen by the Ritz Carlton Hotel of Grand Cayman to purchase some of his paint- ings for their permanent collection.In 2008 he was commissioned by the Cayman Islands government to capture the essence of the Caymanian woman for a monument, celebrating 50 years of voting rights for women. The sculpture is permanently displayed in Hero’s Square in George Town.In 2016 Al and all the members of Native Sons celebrated 20 years with an exhibition at the Nation- al Gallery. Just a year after in 2017, Krys Global commissioned an installation at the Cost-U-Less round-a-bout for his series Together We Stand. Selected Solo Shows:2000 Island Companies, Anchorage Centre, CI. 2004 Jackie Gleason Theatre, South Beach, Miami, FL, USA Sherry Frontenac Hotel, Collins Avenue, Miami, FL, USA. 2005 Dancing to Art, National Gallery, CI. 2008 From The Art, Camana Bay. 2009 Gray Matter, Alʼs Studio, CI2014 Rise, National Gallery, CI
2018 Evolution, Al Ebanks Studio+Gallery, CISelected Group Shows. 1995 Government House, CI. 1996 (February) Native Sons, CI (November) Native Sons, CI Cayfest, CI. 1997 Cayfest, CI Harbor Springs, Michigan, USA. 1998 Cayfest, CI. 1999 Native Sons, CI
Pedro Castle Sculpture Show, CI. 2000 Native Sons, CI
National Museum of the Cayman Islands. 2001 Gallery Artist Shows (3 shows) Kensington Lott, CI Art at the Governorʼs, CI. 2002 Kensington Lott Gallery (2 shows)
Sculpture by Al and Drawings by British Artist Henry Moore, National Gallery, CI Art at the Governorʼs, CI
Talent Expo, The New Self Help Community Foundation, CI. 2003 Talent Expo, The New Self Help Community Foundation, CI
Art Miami, International Art Fair, Miami, Fl USA (work placed in the final catalogue). 2005 Griffin Gallery, Ontario, Chicago, USA. 2006 Raw, Alʼs Studio, CI Native Sons, National Gallery Million Dollar Run, Morganʼs Gallery, CI . 2007 Art Show at Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. 2008 Boggy Man, Morganʼs Gallery, CI Art Show at Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. 2009 Art Show at Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman2009-2018 Featured Artist at the Ritz-Carlton Gallery 2012 Celebrating The Season at Camana Bay 2014 Solo Show at the National Gallery. 2016 Celebrating 20 year of Native Sons at the National Gallery, CI . 2017 Upon The Seas, National Gallery, CI . 2018 Cross Currents - 1st Biennial, National Gallery, CI . 2020 Island of Women, National Gallery, CI . 2021 Reimagined Futures - 2nd Biennial, National Gallery, CI Sculptures & Installations 1998 Man, Woman and Child – The Governorʼs House - Garden 2008 Aspiration, Bronze Sculpture – Cayman Islands Government. 2016 All That Bull, Rankinʼs Jerk Stand – Bodden Town, CI . 2017 Together We Stand Installation commissioned by Krys Global . 2018 Evolution, Alʼs Studio & Gallery, CI . 2019 Miss Cayman Islands Winner - Dress Design 2021 What Holds Us Together - Reimagined Futures - 2nd Biennial, National Gallery, CI AwardsThe Radley Gourzong Award
Artistic Achievement Award, The National Cultural Foundation The McCoy Prize, Painting Commendation
Heroʼs Day Silver Medal Awardee