Artist Among 25 MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant Winners

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Few honors carry the prestige of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.

The coveted awards go to artists, activists, scholars, scientists, and others showing “exceptional creativity.”

In order to even be considered you must first be suggested. Hundreds of anonymous nominators from across the United States are narrowed by a committee of about a dozen.

This year, 25 recipients made the cut for the $800,000 genius grant, and among them, is The Bahamas’ very own Tavares Strachan.

The Bain Town boy is now counted among the world’s greatest. He speaks with Our News from Paris, he is crediting his Bahamian roots for his journey to this great achievement.

His connection to these islands is what makes Strachan humbly proud to be considered a creative genius by virtue of his MacArthur Fellowship Grant – the first and only Bahamian chosen among 25 in the class of 2022.

The class which includes an aerodynamicist, trying to manage “space traffic” and ensure that satellites don’t crash into orbit.

As an interdisciplinary conceptual artist, Strachan has helped launch objects into space, and also produce sculptures the size of a human hair.

For as much as he’s accomplished, it’s his love of home, and a family of creatives, that he says has kept him grounded. His award – a testament to the extraordinary level of Bahamian talent.

The MacArthur Fellow says he hopes his award encourages Bahamian artists to reach for the top by sharing their stories.