A Hybrid Art Gallery, Bookstore, Café, Rum & Wine Bar
Priscilla Hintz Rivera Knight and David Knight Jr., Bajo el Sol Gallery & Art Bar owners since 2016, are proud of the gallery’s more than 30-year legacy of support and engagement with the arts community of St. John and the greater Virgin Islands. The gallery is home to thought-provoking monthly exhibitions, readings and book signings by award-winning V.I. writers and poets, documentary screenings with regional and international filmmakers, as well as presentations by local and visiting academics and musicians.
​​​
At the Art Bar, you'll find Puerto Rican espresso coffee, chocolates, wine, classic Caribbean cocktails, lite savory bites, soups, salads, and freshly baked pastries. The Art Bar is also home to the largest selection of aged rums in Cruz Bay, which can be sampled in curated tasting flights.​
​
Located in Mongoose Junction, Bajo el Sol is just a five-minute walk from the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock.
​
Events & Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibition
Turned & Stitched:
Coral Bay Contemporary
​On Saturday, March 8th starting at 4 p.m. we will be opening our third art exhibition of the season, "Turned & Stitched: Coral Bay Contemporary." In this show, St. Johnian artist siblings Avelino Samuel and Karen Samuel will be showing new works, woodturning & quilts respectively.
Current Exhibition
Balanced Home by EXU
In Exu's first solo exhibition at Bajo El Sol, "Balanced Home", the artist work weaves together a tapestry of color and emotion that speaks to the depths of the human soul. "My work is rooted in themes of spirituality and faith," Exu writes. "My art serves as a conduit for introspection and enlightenment. Each piece is a testament to the interconnectedness of all beings and the mysteries that bind us together."
​
Exu says, "I'm driven by a relentless passion to provoke thought and ignite meaningful dialogue. I like to dive into subjects that demand attention and understanding. In a world often overshadowed by chaos and division, I believe in the transformative power of art to unite, inspire, and uplift. I strive to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who encounter my work, reminding them of the inherent beauty that resides within us all."
​
Exu, a 24-year-old self-taught multi-disciplinary artist and poet, was born and raised in the vibrant landscape of the United States Virgin Islands. They work in acrylic paint, spray paint, markers, and pencils. Driven by a desire to spark meaningful conversations, Exu uses their art as a tool to shed light on subjects often overlooked or misunderstood, and to challenge viewers to confront their beliefs, question societal norms, and embrace the beauty of diversity.
Rhyme & Lime Poetry Jam
Every last Saturday of each month starting at 7pm (except December, June, August & September), the Gri Gri Project along with Raven Phillips hosts Rhyme & Lime Poetry Jam at Bajo el Sol Gallery. This monthly event features the musical stylings of the event's house jazz band From Broheem With Love
​
Rhyme and Lime features poets, musicians and spoken word artists of every experience level from around the world. Although the island that is home to the Rhyme and Lime claims a population of less than 5,000 people, the event’s reach has extended far beyond its shores, welcoming visiting performers from around the Virgin Islands, the rest of the Caribbean and the United States.​
​​
​You can read your own poetry or someone else's - or if you don't wanna rhyme, just listen and lime!
Book Of the Month
On the Outskirts of Eden
Exploring the Roots of Creole Society
in the Virgin Islands, 1492-1692
​For those who came of age steeped in the carefully crafted narratives of New World colonization espoused in the modern era, it is easy to have missed the more-nuanced aspects of social development that took place in small-island communities throughout the Lesser Antilles during the postmedieval period. On the Outskirts of Eden shines new light on this little-understood, yet critically important period in Eastern Caribbean history.
David W. Knight Sr. is a cultural resource consultant, historian, and author from the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
-6.jpg)
Curator's Pick
VIRGIN ISLANDS MARKET BASKETS
by Crucian Bayside Creations
Crucian Bayside Creations is a ​folk art collaborative comprised of the
five Henry siblings from St. Croix: Letitia, Carla, Lloyd, La Verne and Carmen. They carry on a tradition of Virgin Islands basket-making that was passed down to them by their aunt, Eileen Henry-Huggins.
​
The siblings each add their own modern flair to their baskets through the use of different wood types in the basket handles, and by including unique splashes of color in their basket designs.
​
Gustos Premium Espresso Coffee From Our Neighboring Island of Puerto Rico
Sip our single origin, small batch coffee, in one of our handmade, locally crafted coffee cups.