Miramar Cultural Center to host Elliot Bastien’s first solo exhibition on Caribbean mythology
Key Points(5)
- The Ansin Family Art Gallery at the Miramar Cultural Center will present Myths: Menace and Mischief , the debut solo exhibition by Fort Lauderdale-based writer and multidisciplinary artist Elliot Bastien, from June 1–12, 2026.
- Timed for Caribbean American Heritage Month, the exhibition draws on Caribbean folklore and the region’s cultural blend of African, European and Indigenous influences.
- It features two large-scale works and 35 small- and medium-sized paintings, using bold abstract forms, layered textures and vibrant color to reinterpret myths, legends and storytelling traditions that have shaped Caribbean identity.
- A private opening reception included an artist talk by Bastien, remarks from Miramar Vice Mayor Carson “Eddy” Edwards, and emceeing by comedian Cindy-Anne Boisson.
- The exhibition also complements Caribbean American Heritage: A History of High Achievers , a publication by Bastien and his wife, Sandra Bernard-Bastien, which highlights the achievements and contributions of Caribbean Americans.
The Ansin Family Art Gallery at the Miramar Cultural Center will present Myths: Menace and Mischief, the debut solo exhibition by Fort Lauderdale-based writer and multidisciplinary artist Elliot Bastien, from June 1–12, 2026.
Timed for Caribbean American Heritage Month, the exhibition draws on Caribbean folklore and the region’s cultural blend of African, European and Indigenous influences. It features two large-scale works and 35 small- and medium-sized paintings, using bold abstract forms, layered textures and vibrant color to reinterpret myths, legends and storytelling traditions that have shaped Caribbean identity.
A private opening reception included an artist talk by Bastien, remarks from Miramar Vice Mayor Carson “Eddy” Edwards, and emceeing by comedian Cindy-Anne Boisson.
The exhibition also complements Caribbean American Heritage: A History of High Achievers, a publication by Bastien and his wife, Sandra Bernard-Bastien, which highlights the achievements and contributions of Caribbean Americans.
Bastien, a Fort Lauderdale-based artist, poet and author, has been published by Oxford University Press and the Arvon Foundation and has written four books. His poem Limbo was recently selected for the Florida Bards 2026 Anthology. He has previously exhibited in Fort Lauderdale, Toronto and Montserrat, but this marks his first solo show.
“Caribbean mythology fascinates me because it balances fear and humor, menace and mischief,” Bastien said. “Many of these paintings began as poems, inspired by the storytelling traditions that continue to shape Caribbean identity.”
Exhibition details
What: Myths: Menace and Mischief – A solo exhibition by Elliot Bastien
When: June 1–12, 2026 | Monday–Friday | 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Where: Ansin Family Art Gallery, Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL 33025
Admission: Free and open to the public
