The words “sociable, God-fearing, and spontaneous”capture the essence of Oliver Myrie, an artist and high school visual arts teacher whose creativity has been shaped by his upbringing, experiences, and passion for helping others.

Hailing from the rural community of Brown’s Hall, St Catherine, Myrie came from humble beginnings.

“My mother was a seamstress and my father a farmer. Those were difficult days but, through my parents, I learnt the value of hard work and determination,” he said.

Myrie’s love for the arts began as early as second grade at Brown’s Hall Primary School, where he would showcase his skills by drawing maps and diagrams for his classmates to help them better understand certain concepts.

As he got older, his love for art only grew stronger.

“When I [started] to Old Harbour High School I took a deeper interest in the subject when my then art teacher, Miss Beverley Cameron — now deceased — recognised my talent and began to tutor and encourage me,” Myrie stated.

Miss Cameron not only recognised and nurtured his talent, but also introduced Myrie to artists who remain among his greatest inspirations.

“Miss Cameron exposed me to artists like Osmond Watson, Carl Craig, Colin Garland, John Dunkley, Barrington Watson, and Jerry Craig. These artists impacted my love for art and propelled me into the pursuit of becoming an artist,” he stated.

Myrie truly tapped into his passion for art around the ninth grade.

“I became passionate about art in grade nine when I first visited the National Gallery and experienced the works of the artists that were shown to me in class by my art teacher. This experience was life-changing. Additionally, I was struggling inother subjects but excelling at art. My then teacher, Miss Cameron, was able to use this to motivate me to do better and to pursue the talent that she often noted she observed in me. By this time I had differentiated myself among my peers and recognised myself as a talented young artist,” he said.

Oliver Myrie (left), painter of Where I Stand, stands alongside his artwork with Audrey Tugwell Henry, president and CEO of Scotia Group Jamaica, and Peter Henry..

In a full-circle moment, Oliver Myrie’s piece Where I Stand is now featured in the National Gallery as part of Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection.

His inspiration for this piece has strong biblical roots. “When curating Where I Stand, my favourite scripture came to mind, Psalm 24: 3-4. It reads: ‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.’” Myrie shared. “The work poses a question and also makes a declaration: ‘Do you know where you stand?’ and ‘Know where you stand!’”

Myrie said it has been an honour to have his work exhibited by Scotiabank. It is also an honour to share the stage with the works of other notable artists

“It encourages me to continue creating art that will represent our culture well,” he said.

Myrie went on to speak about how vital it is for companies like Scotiabank to show appreciation for the world of art.

“The resources, platform and influence that corporate entities possess uniquely position them to support broader appreciation for and value of the fine arts, both from a financial and cultural perspective. They can bring greater visibility to the tremendous talent within our shores,” he said.

As a high school teacher at Tacius Golding High School, Myrie shared his views on the future of art with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

“As we evolve as a society, and as humanity, artists will not be phasedout or become obsolete by these developments. AI will never replace the value and soul that the artist brings to a work. In fact, AI will create additional opportunities for artists to continue to create,” he said.

Myrie said he shares with all aspiring artists the sage advice his teacher, the late Miss Cameron, shared with him: “Be investigative, hone and develop your talent, find your niche, and be open to growth and development.”