Island icon W. B. Thompson will unveil his latest exhibition, Made from Scratch, at Mango Tango Art Gallery on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The exhibition features Thompson’s dynamic mixed-media works on panels, canvas, and marine board assemblages, filling the gallery with the bold textures, layered materials, and inventive energy that define his style. The celebration extends outdoors with appetizers, spirits, and the Cuban Fusion and Ethnotronica DJ set of Neko Crush, creating a lively island evening.
Mango Tango gallery owner Jane Coombes notes that Thompson is intentional about presenting his work in carefully curated venues both within and beyond the Virgin Islands. Visitors to Mango Tango often recognize his work from exhibitions in Key West, Best in Show honors in Connecticut, and installations at his alma mater, Trinity University in San Antonio.
Locals take particular pride in Thompson’s participation in the Absolute Vodka Art Project: Absolute Connections, an international exhibition that traveled to ten Latin American museums before arriving at Mango Tango in 2008.
Thompson’s work is deeply influenced by the improvisational spirit of Quelbe, or Scratch music, where creation emerges from instinct and whatever materials are at hand. That philosophy continues to shape his intuitive, unrehearsed approach to artmaking. As Thompson notes, creativity is “an itch I must scratch,” a drive that persists even during fallow periods. Guided early on by mentor Professor Bill Bristow, Thompson approaches each drawing and assemblage as a fresh opportunity for invention, guided by intuition rather than rigid structure.
Thompson’s assemblages can be found in public and unexpected spaces, from the Montessori School playground to the Key West International Airport. When offered in the gallery, his work is quickly claimed by dedicated collectors. For more than thirty years, Mango Tango Art Gallery has been a creative home for Thompson’s work, fostering a community that continues to inform and inspire his evolving practice.
Made from Scratch will be on view for seven weeks.
For more information, visit mangotangoart.com or call 340-777-3060.
