OUR STORY
Rooted In
Grand Bahama
Calabash Studio was built on the single belief: that serious art education has always been possible here. It just needed a home
THE FOUNDER
Menyelek
Smith
FINE ARTIST. MURALIST. ART EDUCATOR. FOUNDER
ARTS EDUCATION
Menyelek Smith is a Fine Artist, Muralist, and Art Educator with more than 15 years of experience as a visual artist. Born and based in The Bahamas, he has built a career grounded in the belief that artistic practice and teaching continually inform one another.
In 2024, The Charitable Arts Foundation funded his Mural Experience where he engaged youth in a communal mural project. This revealed a clear gap in structured art education for artists on the island. That gap became Calabash Studio.
Menyelek currently teaches students ages 6-16. He has faculty experience at a local Grand Bahama school and at the GB Resilience Centre. He is an artist in residence with the Big Art GB project supported by The Sibrandij Foundation, an experience that reflects his active studio practice. As a member of the Grand Bahama Artists Association and a working artist he brings professional standards and real-world insight directly into the classroom.
DRAWING
SCULPTING
PAINTING
FINE ART
MURALISM
The principles behind the practice
Calabash Studio was not built to be an activity. It was built to be a standard. These are the commitments that shape everything we teach and how we teach them.
01
Rigor
We hold students to a high standard, not to intimidate but because real growth requires challenge. Comfortable teaching produces comfortable artists.02
Honest Critique
Feedback delivered with care is one of the most powerful tools an artist can receive. We never lie about the work — we help students see it clearly.03
Intentionality
Every session, every exercise, every assignment has a purpose. Nothing at Calabash Studio is filler. We teach with a destination in mind.04
Accessibility
All materials are included. Payment plans are available. We remove the barriers that keep serious students from serious education05
Community
The artists we develop belong to Grand Bahama. We invest in this community because this is where our roots are — and where our students will grow06
Outcomes
We measure success by what students can make when they leave. Portfolios. Skills. Confidence. A clear artistic voice. Those are the outcomes we build towardBuilt for making
Calabash Studio is a working art space in Grand Bahama. Designed for focus, mess, and the type of work that produces real results. We also offer online courses that keep you sharp. Every material you need to build fundamentals is here.
Structure builds freedom.
Every great artist needs roots before they can bear fruit. At Calabash Studio, we give students the structural foundation that makes creative freedom possible — not the other way around.
We teach through the elements of art, with consistent critique and deliberate progression. The result isn't just better technique — it's a student who understands why they make the choices they make.
Each piece is made with attention to detail, ensuring quality you can trust and a finish you’ll be proud to show off.
01
Foundations First
Each piece is made with attention to detail, ensuring quality you can trust and a finish you’ll be proud to show off.
02
Structured Practice
Each piece is made with attention to detail, ensuring quality you can trust and a finish you’ll be proud to show off.
03
Honest Critique
Each piece is made with attention to detail, ensuring quality you can trust and a finish you’ll be proud to show off.
04
Portfolio Development
Ready to take root?
Explore our programs and find your entry point. Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or building an effective art portfolio.