Belizean arts and crafts offer a taste of Central America to any home. Choose from paintings, textiles, slate carvings or basketry – each unique in design!
Women who make these baskets are committed to upholding ancient techniques, inspiring personal achievement, and strengthening local economies. Each coiled basket speaks volumes of love and hope for its makers.
The Vibrant Arts and Crafts Scene
Belize’s unique culture and landscape provide creative inspiration to many artists and artisans, who often produce paintings, wood carvings, textile works, or textile weaving that can be purchased in galleries, markets or even on the street.
Belize is home to numerous internationally acclaimed artists. Iguana Jack first visited Belize in 1975, falling deeply in love with it during his stay and dedicating his artistic career solely to painting Belizean subjects like coastline scenes or Mayan ruins on his oil or acrylic canvases.
Image Factory Art Foundation in Belize City is one of the premier destinations to find locally made arts and crafts, conveniently situated close to both water taxi terminal and Maritime Museum. As an artist-run organization, this foundation also features an expansive library.
Women have long been at the heart of Belizean arts. Now, at ICA in Belize City is hosting “Women in Art”, an exhibit that highlights all types of Belizean women artists from different genres – and this exhibition marks its largest show to date!
Lee Vanderwalker’s Gallery, Cafe and Gift Shop in Belmopan offers wearable art by contemporary Belizean artist Lee Vanderwalker along with jewelry, ornaments and Christmas items for purchase. Additionally, 46 Oak St at Tubroose St offers fine arts and craft offerings by various Belizean painters such as Gilvano Swasey Francis Swaso Michael Gordon and Carolyn Carr.
Traditional Mayan art thrives in Belize’s western Cayo district thanks to artisans crafting intricate slate bas-reliefs. Artists such as the Garcia sisters of Mountain Pine Ridge Gallery & Museum are leading practitioners in this art form, while modern painters such as Benjamin Nicholas, Pen Cayetano & Walter Castillo also produce beautiful works that demonstrate Belize’s rich cultural diversity.
Belize is known for its vast art and craft sites, galleries, museums, and Bliss Centre for Performing Arts – not to mention several great places that display the history of this beautiful nation. House of Culture in Belize City, Museum of Belize, and Bliss Centre for Performing Arts are just a few such stops that should not be missed during any trip there!
Local Artists
Belize, being such a small nation, boasts its share of talented artists and craftsmen. From Lela Vernon’s musical stylings to Pen Cayetano’s vibrant canvas paintings – Belize’s art scene is certainly engaging and well worth discovering.
No matter if it is painting, sculpture, pottery, or textile art – Belizean artists and artisans take great pride in exhibiting Caribbean life through their art forms. Seascapes, Garifuna artwork, animal paintings, local street scenes, and beautiful landscapes can be seen beautifully represented in their pieces.
Mayan ruins are found throughout Belize, featuring two of the world’s highest pyramids at Caracol and Xunantunich as well as lesser sites and Pilar, an unexcavated Classic-era Mayan city that could become one of the largest ever discovered. Exploring these relics provides a rare chance to gain insights into this ancient culture while exploring a breathtaking tropical setting.
Sculptors and painters play an integral part in Belizean arts culture, many gaining international renown. The Institute of Creative Arts in Belize City features contemporary art exhibits and workshops; their current exhibition “Women in Art” showcases how Belizean women have contributed to its arts and culture.
Additionally, Belizean artists of national and international renown, there are an abundance of talented sculptors, painters, and ceramicists producing representational and abstract pieces of their own creation. While some have found success as commercial artists, others choose instead to focus solely on producing their art for personal reasons.
Belize City alone hosts numerous galleries, museums, and other establishments where art can be viewed or handmade products bought; these include the House of Culture, Museum of Belize, and Bliss Centre for Performing Arts among many others.
On Ambergris Caye, both the San Pedro Art Gallery and Belizean Melody Art Gallery provide opportunities to find work by local artists and artisans. Melody Sanchez Wolfe runs the latter as her shop offers everything from wearable art to gourd carvings.
Belizeans enjoy art both inside their homes and businesses, such as murals decorating restaurants. Some pieces reflect social justice issues or environmental protection initiatives; other works celebrate Belize’s rich history and diverse cultures.
Local Artisans
Belizean arts and crafts scene is supported by an abundance of talented artisans who draw on their country’s rich culture to produce items inspired by it. You can find everything from textiles and jewelry to wooden carvings at local artisan stores and markets throughout Belize.
Melody Sanchez Wolfe of Ambergris Caye launched her Belizean Melody Art Gallery in 2008. This compact gallery offers handmade items and original works of art by various regional artists – such as slate and limestone carvings by the Garcia sisters; wood carvings; ceramics; Garifuna drums as well as contemporary paintings like Walter Castillo, Nelson Young, Pen Cayetano’s works.
Orange Gallery offers unique handmade crafts at competitive prices. Their team of expert artisans utilize kiln dried Belizean hardwood furniture, art, and souvenirs crafted using salvaged stumps, roots, and wood from trees harvested within the last century to craft each item – effectively recycling materials to create high-quality goods made entirely out of locally sourced materials. Their aim is to produce superior artisan products.
Orange Gallery also sells books and magazines that highlight local culture and history, such as Belizean Studies by St. John’s College and Cubola Productions which publish fiction and nonfiction works, Beka Lamb series by Cubola Productions which chronicles nationalism in 1950s Belize as well as contemporary authors like Zee Edgell who explored this aspect in her novel Time and the River.
Belize City offers more than just galleries and museums; it also features several artisan shops offering handmade items. One such project that helps elevate the quality of Belizean handmade products is Unique Belize Artisan Brand Launch and Artworks Exhibition which was implemented by ATA consultants Judy Karwacki and Daniela Viscarra.
Capital city Belize City boasts numerous music venues that showcase local musicians and performers, from reggae-filled clubs in the city to marimbas and xylophones playing marimba music in towns like Corozal and Orange Walk. You’ll even be able to find music records on sale that highlight its vast musical influences.
Traditional Crafts
Traditional Belizean craft items, including woven baskets and Maya textiles, can be found at galleries, gift shops and roadside stands. Artisans also produce other traditional crafts like slate carvings, pottery creations and wooden sculptures as traditional works by themselves or to provide services; some pieces fall into “service” crafts which provide functions while others can be considered works of art in themselves.
Garifuna baskets are widely recognized throughout Belize and Central America. One such place to find them can be found at Dangriga’s Garifuna Cultural Heritage Center; here you’ll also find music CDs and gifts. Additionally, local artists Walter Castillo, Pen Cayetano and Nelson Young often display and sell their work here as well.
Orange Gallery provides tourists and travelers who wish to bring a piece of Belize home with them with high-quality kiln dried Belizean hardwood furniture, souvenirs and jewelry made by its owners using salvaged stumps, roots and wood from old hardwood trees that were harvested during the last century.
The gallery also showcases artwork by the Garcia sisters (who revived Mayan slate carving), and limestone statues by Magana brothers. Furthermore, its owner boasts an extensive selection of paintings by both local Belizean and expat artists.
Fido’s Courtyard offers an amazing gift shop full of handmade, artisan treasures from San Pedro artisans. Their passion shines through in each product they sell; you’ll find everything from handmade jewelry and pillowcases to exquisitely embroidered pillowcases and rugs! Located conveniently nearby, you should make time for this stop during your stay in San Pedro.
