BOBIE-LEE DIXON
bobie-lee.dixon@guardian.co.tt
The death early this morning of LeRoy Clarke has plunged the art fraternity into mourning.
Described by fellow artists as the “King of Art” and a true representation of art in T&T, artist, poet and author Clarke left the canvas behind today when he passed away at 6 am at his Cascade home otherwise also called The Legacy House.
Clarke had been ailing for some time and close friends say he was even battling dementia. The artist born and raised in Gonzales, Belmont was a self-taught artist who achieved high honours in his lifetime for his contribution to art in T&T.
Among the several accolades bestowed upon him, was an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). He was also proclaimed by the Government of T&T—a “National Icon.”
Known for his philosophical artwork which spoke keenly to T&T”s folklore and the soundness of his African heritage, Clarke who also began his professional writing in his early 20s was often described as the “controversial artist” because of his blunt conversational pieces that often spoke to societal and cultural taboo subjects.
In the 1970’s he dedicated his life to producing a course of work famously known as The Poet—a compilation of his best in writing, drawing and painting, all encapsulating his journey and growth as an artist extraordinaire.