ArtistTalk with Cheryl McIntosh

At the center of this Artistic Talk is the portrait of “Nanny – Queen of the Maroons”. According to historical sources, Nanny was born in present-day Ghana, enslaved, and forcibly taken to Jamaica, where she became a leader of the Maroons—communities of formerly enslaved people who had liberated themselves. This participatory talk uses the idea of camouflage as a point of departure to explore artistic strategies for engaging with the past, considering dress as a form of resistance, and giving voice to marginalized people.

Born in Jamaica and based in Bonn, Cheryl McIntosh works across acrylic painting, textile collage, and experimental materials such as coffee and rust. Her practice weaves personal experience with Black history, resistance, and memory, giving voice to overlooked stories and inviting reflection on the African diaspora, colonial legacies, and inner healing.