Claris Carter

With their upright stances and solemn, mask-like faces, these carved wooden figures—one of a boy scout, the other a dog—exemplify Claris Carter’s distinctive folk style. Made decades apart, they share the same intuitive simplicity: flat planes, minimal detail, and a quiet, watchful presence.

Painted with house paint and carved from local guava wood, the sculptures reflect a resourceful, handcrafted aesthetic rooted in everyday life. But their purpose remains unclear. Were they made as children’s toys? Decorative household pieces? Or perhaps as souvenirs for the tourist trade? We do not know enough about Carter’s life and work to provide a definitive answer.

Carter’s work, like much Intuitive art, resists easy categorisation—blurring the line between function and expression. Regardless of their original intent, these figures stand today as quiet testaments to Cayman’s handmade traditions and the personal voice of a self-taught artist.