Chris Christian is a passionate supporter of Cayman’s thriving traditional and contemporary art scene. A gifted painter in his own right, Chris employs his experience and skills as the Art Director for The Galleries of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, acting as the conduit between the incredibly versatile and creative local talent and would-be proud owners of their work.Chris’s passion for Cayman’s art scene is born from his roots: born and bred in Cayman, Chris has watched the local arts scene mature and diversify into the powerhouse for art that it is today. Having spent two years working at Graphics Limited as a graphic designer straight out of school starting in 1988, Chris started his own business ‘Native Ware’ in West Bay designing and creating silk screen. After two years he began attending the community college, where he spent two years studying building, design and drafting. He then headed to St. Lawrence College, Ontario in Canada where he studied commercial art. Chris began Cayman Traditional Arts in 2003, with Chris holding private art classes. As Founder and Director of Cayman Traditional Arts, Chris has developed the entity into one that is committed to maintaining Cayman’s arts and culture through its Heritage Arts programme, which is now embedded in the primary school curriculum, to the benefit of Cayman’s young people. In particular, Chris’s boundless energy and commitment to the Cayman arts scene is highlighted via this programme, whereby Chris shares his knowledge, imparting stories of old that transfix, as well as showing youngsters hands-on techniques of forgotten traditions, producing consistently high enthusiasm from his young participants. As Art Director and Curator with The Ritz-Carlton, a position he created and has held since 2005, Chris is able to showcase both traditional arts and crafts, such as Cayman’s famous and intricate silver thatch weaving, and contemporary art exhibitions within the magnificent location at The Ritz-Carlton’s Gallery, the perfect location for visitors to Cayman to appreciate for themselves the skills of islanders.His own artistic talent is also often exhibited at such shows, highlighting his skill at taking a traditional image or scene and converting it into a spectacular modern abstract, always full of mood, vivid colour and intensity.As one of the original member of the Native Sons art group, Chris has helped shape the direction of Cayman’s art scene as we see it today – dynamic and diverse, with a firm anchoring in the cultural heritage of the Cayman Islands.