Kishan Munroe (born 1980, Nassau, Bahamas) is a multidisciplinary social artist, whose work agitates for social change, transcending physical and cultural boundaries while speaking to the universality of mankind.
In 2003 Kishan obtained BFA degrees in Painting and 3D Visual Effects at Savannah College of Art and Design. He went on to pursue graduate work at his alma mater on a graduate fellowship and concluded his studies in Painting in 2005.
Kishan’s work has been exhibited in the Caribbean, North and Latin America. His work is included in many public and private collections and has also received numerous awards and accolades.
On the 21st of August 2008, Munroe, embarked upon a multi-media expedition entitled ‘The Universal Human Experience’ – the first ever project of this magnitude attempted by a solo artist.
Munroe charted an ambitious trek around the world, a fact-finding mission, investigating various conflicts and resolutions that have shaped cultures of opposition. This solo journey was also designed to challenge Munroe’s physical and emotional endurance as well as his ability to adapt and to empathize. Through his documentation of these socio-political issues he captures the reality of a world affected by the plight of human history while placing emphasis on the process of reconciliation as key to the redemption and sustainability of a more peaceful coexistence.
Armed with what he calls “weapons of mass progression” (his artistic tools) Munroe has shown his commitment to be an ambassador of art, as well as an activist for social change. After nearly two continuous years of documenting life in the Americas, Munroe returned home (The Bahamas), completing Phase I of his expedition.
Phase II of his project commenced in 2010, which drew into focus The Bahamas and its relationship with Cuba. Munroe crafted a multi-disciplinary, analytical project that was not only designed to function as appealing visual, audio and literature art, but which also simultaneously wrote a major part of The Bahamas’ history that had for far too long gone uninvestigated contextually. This phase of the project used the tragedy of the sinking of HMBS Flamingo in 1980 as a point of dissection, to address further historical and cultural nuances that have shaped Bahamian culture.
In 2013 Munroe was granted a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, which made him the youngest artist to be awarded a national show at the institution. The revolutionary exhibit “Swan Song of the Flamingo” went on to receive international acclaim.
In 
2014, The Senate of The Bahamas, under the leadership of Senator The Hon. Sharon Wilson (President) identified Munroe’s work as being exemplary of a new standard of cultural intervention and historical documentation. On these merits Munroe was afforded another prestigious honor in being the first Bahamian artist granted the opportunity to exhibit artwork within the Upper House of Parliament. Until then the only paintings to ever grace the walls of the Senate building or the House of Assembly were limited to that of European portraits of British monarchs.
Based on his outstanding research and artistic works on the sinking of HMBS Flamingo, Munroe went on to receive the prestigious Bridget Jones Award for Caribbean Studies in 2015, which was awarded by the Society of Caribbean Studies (UK).
Kishan Munroe is based in Nassau, Bahamas but continues to work within other societies around the world using his creative resources as a catalyzing tool for social intervention.
© Kishan Munroe – October 2015
Link to ‘Swan Song of The Flamingo‘ photo gallery: http://www.rosemarychanna.com/photo-gallery/
Link to interview on The Bahamas – Then and NOW TV show: http://www.rosemarychanna.com/the-bahamas-then-and-now-kishan-munroe/
Link to Kishan on The Bahamian Project: http://www.bahamianproject.com/2013/03/kishan-munroe/
Link to The Bahamas Weekly: http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/arts-and-culture/Artist_Kishan_Munroe_unveils_new_painting_for_Flamingo_Anniversary35012.shtml