The 2025 Juneteenth Concert Experience is set to feature a dynamic expansion of its creative lineup with the addition of acclaimed visual artist Dionne Polite. As part of Imagination Unchained: A Celebration of Juneteenth Through Art, Culture, and Black Brilliance, Polite brings her vibrant storytelling to the stage on Friday, June 20th at 8 PM, hosted at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.
While the concert is rooted in music, this year’s program offers a deeper artistic experience—one that visually honors Black resilience, memory, and joy.
Dionne Polite, a proud Guyanese-American painter, contributes an intimate, culturally rich lens to the exhibit. Deeply influenced by her Caribbean roots and personal life experiences, her work explores identity, ancestral pride, and collective memory. Her artistic journey took on new depth in 2019, after her father was diagnosed with dementia. What began as a series of therapeutic sketches soon evolved into CCC: Culture and Creativity on Canvas.
“My work doesn’t center on trauma,” says Polite. “I want to celebrate our nobility and resilience. Across the African diaspora, we’ve flourished no matter where we’ve landed.”
From regal African iconography to vibrant slices of Afro-Caribbean life, Polite’s paintings are emotional, expressive, and bursting with joy. Her signature use of bold reds, purples, yellows, and blues reflects both the warmth of her childhood and the strength of her community.
“I see my world through a kaleidoscope,” she reflects. “I hope my art helps others feel seen, celebrated, and inspired.”
To Dionne Polite, Juneteenth represents more than just a commemorative date—it’s a sacred moment for reflection and empowerment.
“It’s a time for remembering who we are and where we’ve come from,” she says. “That’s the story I tell with every brushstroke.”
With her presence in Imagination Unchained, Polite adds a striking visual element to the celebration—one that allows audiences not only to hear the rhythms of liberation, but to see them brought to life in vivid color.
Tickets: Available now at Showpass
Location: Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Pl, Lauderhill, FL 33311
Presented by: Next Weekend Productions, Inc.
Imagination Unchained—where creativity becomes a form of liberation.
Caribbean National Weekly caught up with Polite to learn more about her journey. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
