Crafted Kinship:
A Journey Through Black Caribbean Creativity

Four years in the making, Crafted Kinship is a vibrant celebration of over 60 contemporary Black Caribbean makers reshaping the boundaries of art and design. Through powerful interviews and stunning photography, this book immerses you in a rich tapestry of multidisciplinary creativity—from bold ceramics to intricate textiles. Dive deep into stories of identity, Black womanhood and manhood, and the complex legacies of migration and diaspora as each artist connects heritage with innovation in ways that will inspire and captivate. Published by Artisan Books.

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Everyone who orders a copy of Crafted Kinship can access a free “Crafted Kinship: The Global Makers Guide to Connecting with Ancestry and Heritage”—a guide filled with personal exercises inspired by the makers featured in the book.

How do you Craft Kinship?

For me, crafting kinship is about connecting with my roots and honoring the rich stories of our ancestors. In Crafted Kinship, I’ve gathered the voices of over 60 Black Caribbean makers who do just that—bringing tradition to life through their hands and hearts.

This book is more than just a read; it’s a guide, a keepsake, and a creative bible you’ll turn to again and again as you find your own way to craft kinship. Watch the video to learn more!

International Orders
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Crafted Kinship Book Tour Events

Join me on the Crafted Kinship book tour as we celebrate the vibrant creativity of Black Caribbean makers! This series of engaging events will feature book signings, insightful discussions, and interactive workshops exploring the themes of heritage and artistry from the book. Check out the tour dates and locations listed below. I can't wait to connect and share this journey with you!

January 31, 2025

Carib Art Meet Up

Toby Resort
Montego Bay, Jamaica

9am-12pm

February 1, 2025

Locale JA

4A Holborn Rd
Kingston, Jamaica

12-3pm

April 3-5, 2025

USVI
St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John

TBD

February 23, 2025

Virtual Talk

Kaabo Clay

1pm

June 11-13, 2025

Wedge Lecture at

Luminato Festival
Toronto, Canada

7-10pm

More Details to Follow

March 11, 2025

NYU Center for Black Visual Culture

20 Cooper Square, Fl 3 New York, NY 5:30-7pm

Crafted Kinship Book Tour

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Crafted Kinship Outtakes

Through narrative, Barnett reminds us that we should never forget the creative ingenuity (in both form and content) of the Caribbean diaspora. Despite fragmentation, dislocation, and colonialism, the archive is living and is transmitted through the hands and movement of bodies. The narratives presented are both forms of resistance and celebrations of everyday life.

Myron M. Beasley, Ph.D. American Studies & Curator, Bates College
Malene Barnett has once again proven herself to be at the forefront of current efforts to showcase the works, heretofore invisible if not forgotten, of African peoples’ contributions in design. Inside this timely and noteworthy compilation entitled, Crafted Kinship: The Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers, is the work and progress of 60 Caribbean creatives who “self-identify as multi- or interdisciplinary… who bridge the artificial divides between art, craft, design, and artisanship” This comprehensive report is timely and necessary in promoting creative voices of peoples who have existed since the foundation of creative making who have been, until very recently, lost to history, hidden in plain view.

Jack Travis, Architect
Through a series of endearing and insightful interviews, Malene Barnett’s Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers’ invites us to put aside what we have been told fine art is and how it differs from design and craft. It celebrates, acknowledges and challenges the traditions of our foremothers and fathers from the African diaspora who created out of a different kind of necessity. Moreover, this tome is a celebration of new and more seasoned Black creatives from the Caribbean whose work speaks to their search for meaning and inspiration through their heritage.

Ivy N. Jones, Founder and Director, Welancora Gallery
This publication is essential reading for our time. Conversations about the importance of Caribbean voices in contemporary art and art history, both in the region and the diaspora, are gaining momentum. This collection of artists, curators, writers, and collectors serves as a crucial record of where Caribbean arts and design currently stand, and it foreshadows the global movements to come. Bravo!

Karen Carter, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Black Artists' Networks in Dialogue
Malene's groundbreaking book serves as a powerful testament to the extraordinary individuals who have shaped the Caribbean diaspora. Each artist's story within its vibrant and captivating pages resonates deeply with my own personal connection to my grandmother. As I immersed myself in the beauty and emotion contained within those pages, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in my West Indian heritage. Prior to reading this book, I had been unaware of the vast array of talented artists actively creating and sharing their gifts within the art world. Now, with this newfound inspiration, I am more determined than ever to elevate these artists and their stories to the forefront.

Mashonda Tifrere, Founder of Art Genesis
Crafted Kinship is an unprecedented documentation of Caribbean creative practice, told through first-person accounts. In this book, Malene Barnett invites readers into the many worlds of Caribbean art, design, and making. Through interviews with more than 60 artists, designers, and cultural practitioners, from the Caribbean and its diaspora. This book explores themes pivotal to Caribbean making, such as the blurring between art, craft, and design, the leveraging of plural identities, the importance of joy and celebration, and the impact of colonial and diasporic histories on Caribbean people.

Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel, Dean of Design Ontario College of Art & Design University, OCAD
New Visually stunning, Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers by Malene Barnett offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Black Caribbean artistry. Through compelling interviews and beautiful photographs, featured artists share their cultural background that influences their creative practice. This book is wonderfully curated and serves as a celebration of the rich artistic landscape of the Caribbean.

V. Joy Simmons, MD, Collector

Crafted Kinship: A Journey Through Black Caribbean Creativity