Princeton-Supported Traveling Exhibition Expands to 81C, the Camille Pissarro House, and the University of the Virgin Islands Following Puerto Rico Debut
81C is pleased to announce the St. Thomas presentation of LEHWE’s BIRTH PAPERS: A Caribbean Design Show, its inaugural traveling exhibition dedicated to Caribbean design. Developed and curated by LEHWE Founder Azi Jones, the exhibition opens in Charlotte Amalie on July 11, following its debut at El Kilómetro in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Supported through seed funding from Princeton University, BIRTH PAPERS examines questions of authorship and belonging through the material work and processes of makers from across the Caribbean and its diaspora. The exhibition takes its title from the Anglophone-Caribbean phrase “birth papers,” used to refer to official documents of origin, while also considering the systems of validation that shape how art and design are authenticated, circulated, and understood. The exhibition features sculptural, installation, and functional work by La Vaughn Belle, BOA, Mike Walsh, Clayton Rhule, dach&zephir, Jasmine Thomas-Girvan, Kamala Davis, Kara Springer, Karlo Andrei-Ibarra, Leonie Edmead, Marlon Darbeau, Sebastián Meltz-Collazo, Shani Strand, Simon Tatum, Suzanna Missenberger, Yiyo Tirado-Rivera, and Zoé Phéron.
The St. Thomas edition, developed in partnership with 81C Arts, expands across three sites: 81C’s flagship gallery in historic Charlotte Amalie, the Camille Pissarro House, and the XIIID Innovation and Strategy Center at the University of the Virgin Islands. Together, these locations place contemporary Caribbean design in dialogue with art history, education, innovation, and the built environment. It will mark the exhibition’s largest activation to date.
A central component of the project is the activation of the Camille Pissarro House, birthplace of the renowned Impressionist and home of 81C Arts’ Creative Education Center. Through BIRTH PAPERS, the historic building will act as a key meeting place, bringing the work of today’s artists and designers into dialogue with one of the Caribbean’s most significant artistic legacies. Selected works will also be presented at the XIIID Innovation and Strategy Center at the University of the Virgin Islands, situating contemporary design within a space dedicated to research, entrepreneurship, and future-focused thinking. This extension strengthens the exhibition’s relationship to education while opening new opportunities for student and community engagement.
LEHWE and 81C Arts will also present a public programming series organized in partnership with Right to Democracy. Programming will include artist talks, panel discussions, student visits, and community conversations that extend the exhibition’s inquiry into Caribbean material culture, civic space, and artistic legacy. Additional details regarding speakers, educational initiatives, and registration will be announced in the coming weeks.
Following its presentation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, BIRTH PAPERS will continue to Kingston, Jamaica, where it is scheduled to open in conjunction with the Kingston Biennial in December 2026. By connecting Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Jamaica through a shared exhibition platform, the project contributes to a growing movement of regional cultural exchange while advancing LEHWE’s commitment to Caribbean design as a vital field of contemporary practice.
Anchored by 81C Arts’ longstanding work with artists, students, and local audiences in St. Thomas, the project positions Charlotte Amalie as a major meeting point for contemporary creative practice, preservation, scholarship, and public engagement.
ABOUT LEHWE
Founded in 2025 by curator and researcher Azi Jones, LEHWE is an independent curatorial platform dedicated to championing Caribbean design through exhibitions, research, and public programming. BIRTH PAPERS is the platform’s inaugural project and reflects LEHWE’s mission to foreground design vocabularies distinct to the Caribbean while building new pathways for regional exchange.
ABOUT 81C
Founded and directed by Zack Zook, 81C Arts has become a key cultural organization in St. Thomas through its exhibitions, education initiatives, and community programs. Its partnership with LEHWE supports the local expansion of BIRTH PAPERS while connecting the exhibition to the wider cultural, civic, and educational landscape of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
OPENING RECEPTION DETAILS:
5-10PM | Free Admission | Dual Location | St. Thomas
81C (located on Strand Gade) Address: 81C Kronprindsens Gade St Thomas
The Camille Pissarro House (located on Main Street) Address 14 Dronningens Gade St Thomas
For more information please visit 81CVI.COM | Instagram and Facebook @81CVI
