Mango Tango Art Gallery was founded in 1988 by husband and wife team Jane Coombes and Smokey Pratt.

Jane, the daughter of an Army Chief Warrant Officer, had traveled the world and had lived in Japan, Alabama, Queens New York, Germany, and finally Texas where she earned her Masters of Art in English. Her parents took her to many galleries and museums. She enjoyed art classes wherever they lived.

Smokey, originally from Spokane, Washington, had worked as a revered chef and musician since their arrival in St. Thomas in 1980. Jane taught English at College of the Virgin Islands and at the Adult Education school.

In 1988, unable to find a serious art gallery on the island, they contemplated opening one as a viable business venture. They had also considered opening their own restaurant but Smokey realized that operating one would leave little time for music. They decided to put their daytime efforts into an art gallery, one that presented fine art for visitors and locals. The picture framing division was added almost immediately as customers expressed their need to package the paintings bought at the gallery for display.

Gallery owner, Jane Coombes, flanked by ceramacist Jessica Rosenberg and painter W B Thompson.

The initial 1988 location of Mango Tango Art Gallery was close to the cruise ships in Havensight. In 1994 the gallery moved to a quiet location on Raphune Hill, away from the hustle and bustle of Havensight. Each year at the 6 monthly shows, in addition to the great art displayed, the highlight was both the hor d’oeuves prepared by Smokey Pratt and the blues of his two-piece band, Two Blue Shoes.

Since Pratt’s passing in 2013, the gallery pursues the tenant upon which it was founded, to showcase fine art by a select group of artists who take risks in creating meaningful works.
The gallery is pleased to now share the creativity of our artists with the global audience on the Web.

1988. Gallery owners Jane and Smokey in front of the first Mango Tango Art Gallery in Havensight, St. Thomas, VI.

Jane and Smokey with their 2013 local win of Best Art Gallery and Best Fine Art.

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