Acclaimed soca artist and performer Machel Montano’s career and life will be celebrated in a new exhibit in New York City.
The Brooklyn Public Library has announced “Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition,” which opens Saturday, August 22, at its Central Library location. The exhibition — created by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness — will be accompanied by programming at various branches across the borough and showcase Montano’s lifelong contributions to soca music and Caribbean culture.
“Brooklyn helped raise me. I lived here, I learned here, and some of my earliest audiences were right in these neighborhoods,” said Montano in a statement. “So for this work to come back to Brooklyn, in a place that is free and open to anybody who walks through the door, means everything. The Caribbean community built a home here, and this exhibition is a way of acknowledging the mark we as a people have made on this city. What moves me most is thinking about a young person walking in, seeing the costumes and the trophies and the records, and understanding that this came from a small island and reached the world. I hope every child who visits leaves knowing their culture deserves that kind of space.”
“Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition” highlights how the city of Brooklyn played a key role in his early career. In 1984, a nine-year-old Montano spent time in the borough after being selected for a Marie Brooks summer programming scholarship, which gave him access to workshops that shaped his formative years. He later debuted at Madison Square Garden, supporting calypso legends like the Mighty Sparrow, the Mighty Shadow, and Lord Kitchener. In the mid-1990s, Montano lived on Utica Avenue and recorded “Big Truck,” his first road march with Xtatik in Brooklyn.
The exhibit will also include curated artifacts from Montano’s career, including costumes, trophies, and vinyl records. Visitors will also have the opportunity to listen to a selection of Montano’s music at the Central Library’s vinyl listening station and more. It’s also sponsored by Tourism Trinidad Limited, TATIL Insurance, Unit Trust Corporation (UTC), Horizons Art Gallery, Reliable Customs Service, The Lost Tribe Atelier Team, and Kwamena Hayfron-Benjamin.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Machel Montano to Brooklyn Public Library,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Brooklyn is home to one of the largest Caribbean populations outside the Caribbean, and the Library is committed to preserving and sharing the stories, histories, and cultural contributions of the communities we serve. This exhibition will offer visitors an opportunity to explore the enduring impact of Caribbean music and culture through the life and career of one of its most influential and beloved artists.”
“Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition” follows the release of his 2026 documentary Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King, which centers on Montano’s 16 performances during the 2015 Carnival season and much more. The documentary will also be projected on the facade of Central Library on Thursday, September 3. For more information about the exhibit and its upcoming programming, visit the Brooklyn Public Library’s official website.
