Jamaican Arts Ambassador: Meet Theresa Roberts
LoveLondon, Instagram March 2024

Introducing Theresa Roberts, the Jamaican Ambassador for Arts, a distinguished and talented member of the selection committee for the WIAF. With a profound understanding of art, Theresa Roberts brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the committee. Her discerning eye and keen appreciation for artistic expression make her an invaluable asset in identifying and celebrating outstanding contributions to the world of arts. Theresa Roberts’ passion for promoting cultural exchange and artistic excellence resonates deeply, shaping the direction and impact of the committee’s decisions. Her dedication to fostering creativity and innovation within the arts community exemplifies her unwavering commitment to advancing the cultural landscape on a global scale. Theresa Roberts’ passion for and pride in Jamaica, the country of her birth, is clear. It drives her interest as a philanthropist and collector, it fuels her business success as founder of the Jamaica Patty Co restaurants, and it is evident in her elegant London home, where she is surrounded by art from her collection, much of it made in the 60 years since Jamaica’s independence in 1962, which serves as an important reference point for the development of Jamaican art.
See LoveLondon Post in Instagram

Jamaican Arts Ambassador Theresa Roberts To Showcase Women Artists At London Art Fair
B:M2023 - Black History Month October 2023

Jamaican arts ambassador Theresa Roberts will showcase a selection of works by female Jamaican artists at the 2023 Women in Art Fair in London from 11-14 October. The stand titled ‘Jamaican Women in Art’ will highlight both established and emerging talent and the vital contribution of Jamaican women to the arts.

Roberts, who was appointed Jamaican Ambassador for Arts and Culture in May 2023, has spent over 20 years championing Jamaican art in the UK and Europe. Her personal collection contains works gathered over decades and she is passionate about supporting women artists from the island.
The Women in Art Fair stand will include paintings, sculptures, textiles and more covering themes such as identity, culture, nature and spirituality. It will showcase Jamaican female talent past and present across diverse mediums.
Roberts said: “I’m so proud to showcase the breadth of creativity amongst Jamaican women at this prestigious fair. Their work deserves to be seen by wider audiences and I hope this stand will open up new opportunities for these exceptional artists.”
The Ambassador has organised numerous exhibitions of Jamaican art, most recently ‘Sweetness and Sorrow’ at the University of East London in 2022. She aims to foster cultural exchange and appreciation for Jamaican art.
The Women in Art Fair at the Mall Galleries is the UK’s leading art fair dedicated to female creators across all mediums and eras. Women in Art Fair runs 11-14 October

Read the Black History Month Article.

Black Circle Gallery at the Women in Art Fair - WIAF 2023
Mall Galleries, London, 11 - 14 October 2023

WIAF is First global women’s art fair, the open call received over 1000 applications, over 200+ artworks, 150 artist and galleries participating, 5 continents of the world represented over 4 days at the @mallgalleries @friezeofficial
@womeninartfairofficial - Women in Art Fair - is a new art fair dedicated to readdressing the gender imbalance in the art industry. WIAF seeks to create a positive global fair, from which women and those identifying as women, are given an opportunity to show their work and contribute to developing the exchange of ideas around gender, and culture.

Open Instagram Reel!

Read the Mall Galleries Article

Prime Minister Appoints Ambassadors to Drive Economic Growth
CVM TV, 11 May 2023

Four major players in the private sector have been appointed to the crucial role of identifying investment opportunities and promoting Jamaica as an appealing destination for both local and international investors; the announcement came today from Prime Minister, Andrew Holness. In a move, said to boost Jamaica’s economic growth, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the appointment of four new ambassadors. The quartet is set to play a critical role in attracting foreign investment and driving innovation in key sectors. As efforts continue to accelerate Jamaica’s transition to becoming a digital society, the Prime Minister explains it was essential for two of the ambassadors to be technology-focused. He further emphasizes the government’s unwavering commitment to working with the private sector to create an environment for investment, innovation, and economic growth. Read the CVM TV Article online

Listen to "PM Appoints Ambassadors to Drive Economic Growth | News | CVMTV"

CVM Television is a television station in Kingston, Jamaica, broadcasting news, entertainment, and sports programmes. The station is known for its newscasts, and lifestyle shows; CVM TV airs Caribbean and overseas movie and TV productions.

Art Quarterly - Meet the collectors: Theresa Roberts
Art Quarterly Magazine, Summer 2022

Championing the rich history and strength of Jamaican contemporary art is the driving force behind the Theresa Roberts Art Collection. On a visit to its founder’s London home Helen Sumpter finds out what inspired her passion. Portrait by Jillian Edelstein.

Theresa Roberts’ passion for and pride in Jamaica, the country of her birth, is clear. It drives her interest as a philanthropist and collector, it fuels her business success as founder of the Jamaica Patty Co restaurants, and it is evident in her elegant London home, where she is surrounded by art from her collection, much of it made in the 60 years since Jamaica’s independence in 1962, which serves as an important reference point for the development of Jamaican art. Marking that anniversary, a new selection of more than 30 works from Roberts’ collection is currently on show in the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum. The collection, with work
by established and emerging Jamaican artists such as Mabusha Dennis, Marlon James, Christopher Lawrence, Laura Facey Cooper, Judy Ann Macmillan, Edna Manley and Alvin Marriott, includes work in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture and photography, and on a diverse range of subject matter. The exhibition in Liverpool is the most extensive show of Jamaican art to take place in the region.


Read On...

Open the Article (PDF)

Victoria Gallery & Museum set to launch new exhibition showcasing Jamaican art
The Guide Liverpool, 1 February 2022

A new exhibition showcasing the vibrancy and variety of contemporary Jamaican art since the country’s Independence in 1962 will open at the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum on Saturday, 19 February.

The University of Liverpool: "An exhibition showcasing the vibrancy and variety of contemporary Jamaican art since the country’s Independence in 1962. Jamaican-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Theresa Roberts has kindly lent from her extensive private collection. It shows a Jamaica beyond the tourist idyll - a country with its challenges but a strong sense of identity and culture."

The ‘Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Art Collection’ exhibition will feature more than thirty artworks from the extensive private collection of Jamaican-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Theresa Roberts.
It is the first exhibition entirely of Jamaican art to take place in the north-west of England and offers a comprehensive presentation of the best of Jamaican art since the 1960s.

The exhibition features a mix of established names and emerging talent, expressing their world through a blend of painting, sculpture, photography and mixed-media.

Read On...


Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Art Collection
Galleries 6 & 7, 19 February - 9 July 2022

Victoria Gallery & Museum Liverpool
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica opens Victoria&Albert Museum Exhibition
22 February 2022

A new exhibition showcasing the vibrancy and variety of contemporary Jamaican art since the country’s Independence in 1962 will open at the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum on Saturday, 19 February.

The University of Liverpool: "An exhibition showcasing the vibrancy and variety of contemporary Jamaican art since the country’s Independence in 1962. Jamaican-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Theresa Roberts has kindly lent from her extensive private collection. It shows a Jamaica beyond the tourist idyll - a country with its challenges but a strong sense of identity and culture."

The ‘Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Art Collection’ exhibition will feature more than thirty artworks from the extensive private collection of Jamaican-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Theresa Roberts.
It is the first exhibition entirely of Jamaican art to take place in the north-west of England and offers a comprehensive presentation of the best of Jamaican art since the 1960s.

The exhibition features a mix of established names and emerging talent, expressing their world through a blend of painting, sculpture, photography and mixed-media.

Read on - Article The Guide Liverpool

Exclusive exhibition of artwork coming to Liverpool - Liverpool Echo
The Guide Liverpool, 1 February 2022

Theresa Roberts, is the founder and owner of the Jamaican Patty Co. based in Covent Garden.
Theresa, who left Jamaica aged eight, began her carefully curated collection to stay connected to her childhood while in London, began collecting works by the ‘greats’ of the Jamaican art world, later focusing on up and coming artists.
Theresa has a home on the island where she hosts annual residencies for the Royal Drawing School.
Theresa said: "I had what I describe as an ‘organic’ childhood, very simple and natural.

Read On...

BBC Radio Merseyside documentary:
Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Art Collection
18 February 2022

The first exhibition of wholly Jamaican art to be displayed in North-West England has found its home in Liverpool.
Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Art Collection exhibition at the Victoria Gallery and Museum will feature more than thirty artworks from the extensive collection of Jamaican-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Theresa Roberts.

Watch - BBC Watch (FaceBook)

“Theresa Roberts — A Jamaican on a Mission ”
The Jamaican Observer, 1 July 2012

Assiduous collector and promoter of all things Jamaican Theresa Roberts used the Twelve Star Gallery of Europe House on Tuesday, June 19 to unveil a selection of her own collection, entitled Jamaican Men — A Collector's Choice. SO takes you inside. We share views, too, from art critics Jonathan Fryer as well as Edward Lucie-Smith.
Prior to the opening, on Monday, May 28, the charming Theresa and hubby Andrew were dinner guests at Windsor Castle. Naturally, she used the opportunity to discuss Jamaican art with her host Prince Charles.

The Theresa Roberts Collection

Jamaica has become world-famous for its music (Bob Marley), and more recently for its athletic prowess (Usain Bolt), but it is less known for its art. Yet, for a small island nation, it possesses an astonishingly large number of artists, and a supportive community of collectors. The paintings and sculptures shown here come from the collection of a proud Jamaican who divides her time between Britain and Jamaica. Since she recently supported an exhibition of Jamaican women artists at Murray Edwards College Cambridge, which has the largest collection of contemporary art by women in Europe, Theresa Roberts has, on this occasion, chosen to show only work by men. The works date from 1944 to the present.

Daily Express 2005
"Our Bodies are a Work of Art"