Abaco Artist – Kim Roberts

     When you walk into Abaco Ceramics, located in Abaco Shopping Plaza, you find yourself,not only in a shop, but in an art studio, a hub of creativity. There, the owner, artist Kim Roberts welcomes you to shop not only for her latest creations but also to browse among the displays of other artists and crafts people’s creations.

     As you absorb the atmosphere of the place, you are overwhelmed by an explosion of happy colors surging from all the different pieces exposed. Be prepared, once you enter Abaco Ceramics, you will not want to pull yourself out of the magnetic atmosphere of the place. There will always be something you have not deeply examined or that you want to look at again, wondering where in your home it would fit or for whom it would be a nice present.

     All the ceramic pieces are created and fired in the shop, all the Green Ware made by Ceramist Barella Gardner and painted after the first time in the kiln by Kim Roberts. They will be fired again after being decorated.

     Kim explains that there are now about twenty design lines she created with more being added on a regular basis.

     There you will find all kind of ceramic or earthenware items to fulfill your whims: tableware, garden items, serving pieces, decorative tiles, house signs, plant pots, plant stakes, lamps and more. Kim Roberts has created several lines of decoration from Bahamian sayings to turtle, fish, butterfly, octopus, bee and more, all in vibrant colors. The latest line offered in support of her husband Beekeeper, Terrence Roberts, who harvests the “Honking Goose” honey from his hives and offers other honey bees products.

     In Abaco Ceramics, you will find art and craft representative of several islands of the Bahamas, such as canvas paintings by local artist Lucas Key, silk paintings by Tiffany Barrett, raffia baskets from

Andros, candles made in Nassau by Bigitti, placemats from Long island and Androsia fabric by the yard.

     Always willing to share her talent with others, Kim Roberts started classes at the end of April. On Saturday afternoons, attendees can learn about mosaic, ceramics and earthenware. Mark your calendars should you want to diversify and add new inspiration to your creativity!

     A born artist, Kim says that she started to make pottery at the age of seven, while growing up in Nassau. Her mother used to drop her to pottery classes after school, she recalls. Decorating and painting her creations were already part of her creating process. She went on attending classes at Palm Beach Atlantic College, where one of her Professors encouraged her.

Where did she find her own specific style? “I always did art as a child, she said. I always liked colors and whimsical stuff.”

Where did her inspiration come from? “I love Picasso and local Artist, Amos Fergusson was a big inspiration” she replies.

Kim Roberts moved to Abaco in 1993, to become the Art Teacher at Forest Heights Academy High School. She also taught Art classes for adults before Hurricane Dorian.

Kim Roberts can be reached at: 242 375 8774

abacoceramics242@gmail.com