Burokeet Art Studio is the creative workshop of artist and designer Rhian Kempadoo-Millar
Rhian was fascinated by colour and movement from a young age & escaped into a world of nature, animals and creativity. Anything with colour, expression, movement,carnival, dance, music,environmental art and social commentary.
At 16 she was an apprentice on the team creating masquerade costumes with Peter Minshall for Trinidad Carnival 1995 and creating 100’s of batik paintings for the Atlanta Olympic Opening Ceremony 1996.
She returned to the UK to study Theatre & Costume Design at Central St Martins, London.
Her first theatre commission creating costumes and set for the Derek Walcott Trinidad Theatre Workshops 12th Night. a fusion of European literature within a Caribbean context guided by Artistic Director Mr Albert Laveau.
Rhian was employed as the lead costume designer job in London for Sony Entertainment Europe on ‘The Getaway’ which was a totally new experience in working in the digital arts and the games industry. It was a fascinating blend of film production and video games. The game went on to win a BAFTA for best selling game 2001.
She also worked on the video games Gangs of London and LA Noire.
In 2001, 2003 and 2007 Rhian worked on the Carnival Messiah costume team in Leeds - a spectacular theatre show with over 250 costumes created and directed by Geraldine Connor and designed by Clary Salandy of Mahogany Arts, London.
After becoming a Mum to 2 amazing boys in 2001 and 2003 the long hours of the games and theatre industry no longer suited the family so she created Mango Creative Arts delivering workshops and carnival costume workshops in the Yorkshire region.
Mango allowed the flexibility to work around the boys and fit in with school hours. For 18 years Rhian worked with the incredible RJC Dance most years to create troupes fusing their dynamic choreograph with dance/carnival designs. It was fantastic to bring Caribbean history, heritage, politics and sustainability to the streets of the Leeds. Some of the themes included ‘ Roots & Respect’ ‘Aya’ ‘Rise’ ‘Nu Blu Boys’ ‘‘Mas Movement’ ‘Tighten Yuh Belt’,North It Up, ‘Dance Warriors’ and our final troupe in 2019 ‘Re-Use, Recycle, Re-Claim’
In 2009 she returned to Leeds College of Art to study part-time Millinery HNC as was always fascinated by hat and headpiece making techniques. Kempadoo Millar Headwear was formed in 2010 and Rhian has been designer and director creating vibrant ethical flat caps which are manufactured in Yorkshire,UK.
You can see more at www.kempadoo.com
In 2020 Rhian received an Arts Council R & D grant to explore the idea of ‘Carnival to Canvas’ taking her costume and carnival work into original art pieces and art prints.
During the 2 year Covid 19 crisis she took time to draw, paint and sculpt again -exploring freedom of her carnival experience and creating an expression of movement at a time we have had our freedoms totally restricted.
In July 2021 Rhian re-located with the family to Tavira, Portugal and recently exhibited her canvases and art prints at the Andre Pilarte Gallery, Tavira and 8100 Loule.
She works between Yorkshire and Portugal on arts, costume and textiles projects.
In 2023 Rhian exhibited her exhibition ‘Dança e Luta’ as part of the Women in Carnival Conference in Leeds, UK in August 2022.
In April 2023 Rhian was commissioned by East Street Arts to deliver a large-scale mural in Chapeltown Leeds bringing together the heritage of Leeds West Indian Carnival and creating a tribute to 56 years of carnival in Leeds. The work is due to be delivered in Sept 2023 with a team of Leeds based artists.
She is currently delivering a Sustainable Carnival Arts costume/textiles project for RJC Dance in Leeds which looks at using nature as inspiration and promoting themes such as climate change and environmental awareness with the local community and young people. The project will culminate in 100 costumes on the road at Leeds West Indian Carnival in August 2023.
