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Biographies of Haitian Painters
Here, listed alphabetically & at a glance, are the biographies of all our Haitian painters.
You can link to individual rooms (if featured on this site) by clicking on the painter's name.Bresil Akenson
Bresil Akenson was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is between 25 - 30 years of age, but all who see him are said to be struck by the fact that he looks like a young teenager. Bresil is, like many Haitian painters, entirely self-taught. He still lives and works in Port-au-Prince, where he has established and maintained a close working relationship with Galerie Issa, whose proprietor, Issa al Sayeh, has been a patron of Haitian art for many decades. His works are exhibited in several galleries in Haiti.Fritzner Alphonse
Born in Port-au-Prince on July 18 1938, he was a childhood friend of Calixte Henri who introduced him to painting in 1972. His work often depicts the Creole woman. He is also known for his still lifes. Alphonse has exhibited in France, the United States, Mexico,....Smith Blanchard
Born in Port-au-Prince on August 19 1952, he is the son of Sisson Blanchard, a first generation painter. At the age of 12, he participated in his first exhibitions in Port-au-Prince. He often visited workshops of other painters such as Senatus, Calixte Henri, Normil and Jn Rene Jerome. His style can be described as situated halfway between dream and reality, expressing the fantastic in the most banal every-day events and scenes, be they jungles, persons, or voodoo subjects. Blanchard has exhibited in the United States, Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland), as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean.Beaubrun Borimon
Beaubrun Borimon was born in Baraveur, Haiti, in 1964 or 1965. He started painting when he was 15 years old. For the last 15 years, he has been living and painting in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. He is a self-described "slow worker", and is best-known for his pastel coloured market scenes. His works are exhibited and sold in 2 galleries in Haiti, as well as in Haitian galleries throughout the Caribbean, and some in the United States and France. He is married, and has three children.Seymour Etienne Bottex
Born in Port Margot in Northern Haiti on December 24 1922, the younger brother of the painter Jn. Baptiste Bottex, he worked as a photographer until 1955 when, encouraged by his brother, he started to paint, first at the Centre d’Art, then in 1969 at the Galerie Issa. In the late 1980’s he moved to New York where he continues to paint. His works are often featured in art publications. He has exhibited in Spoleto (1970), Rome, Milan, Modena (1981), Sotheby Parke Bernet - New York, Closerie des Lilas (1980), Musee Max Fourny (1988), Espace Cardin (1990), Paris, etc. Bottex is considered one of the finest representatives of Naive Painters because of his unique style which freely mingles humoristic, historical and biblical themes. He has a kind of gay, slapstick humour which can easily be mistaken for irreverence. Seymour was one of the painters commissioned by Bishop Voegli to paint the walls and ceiling of the Cathedral Episcopal in Port-au-Prince. To this day, these murals are considered the most important achievement in Haitian modern art.Jean David Boursiquot
Born near Jacmel in June 1949, he moved to Port-au-Prince in 1971 and worked as a cashier before being encouraged to paint by Philton Latortue, himself a well-known painter and a distant cousin. His works were very well received and he sold his first paintings in 1972 at the Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince. His works are currently sold by galleries the world over. His paintings are mostly of scenes of rural life, depicting the lush and luxuriant vegetation of the Haitian countryside.Henri Robert Bresil
Born in Gonaives in September 1952, he moved to Port-au-Prince in 1973 and took up painting. After receiving the Ispan-Unesco prize of honour at the Museum of Haitian Art at St.Pierre’s College in 1981, he exhibited in Haiti at the Galerie Issa, Nader and Marassa galleries, and abroad in the United States, Puerto Rico, France, Italy and Switzerland. As a landscape painter, Bresil is much lauded by art lovers and has been praised in the New York Times, Miami Herald and Hostess magazine, among other publications.Jean Edner Cadet
Born on January 30 1965, he started painting in 1978. His main influence was the painter Janet Roosevelt Sanon who is known for his imaginary landscapes. From the realistic landscapes for which is he featured in the book "Haitian Painting", by Eva Pataki, he has progressed to paintings of landscapes in the soft dreamlike colours for which he is becoming famous. Cadet has exhibited in Europe (Paris 1990), the United States (Miami, Chicago), Mexico 1993,...W. Cherizol
Born in Port-au-Prince on April 15 1959, he started painting in 1978 under the influence of his artist-painter cousin, Ernst Louizor, with whom he developed a highly unique painting technique. It consists of applying great quantities of paint “dans chacune de ses toiles afin d’en accentuer les reliefs.”Jacques-Richard Chery
Born in Cap Haitien in Northern Haiti on February 2 1928, he started painting whilst still working in his regular job as a barber. He then opened a gas station in the Artibonite Valley and exhibited his art at his work site. Following the warm reception given to his works, and on the advice of his friend Philome Obin, he moved to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haitian Art, in 1951. In 1965, he entered the Galerie Issa where he painted for several years. His works are often reproduced in magazines (Vogue, Time) as well as in art books. He has exhibited in London (1969), Spoletto (1970), Modene (1981), New York, Milwaukee, Berlin (1979), Sotheby Parke Bernet, Paris (1980, 88, 90), etc. His earlier works were representative of the Northern School, focusing on the minutely detailed representation of historical scenes or events of every-day life (such as carnivals, Christmas etc.). In his current style, he paints, with great humour and in vibrant colours, comic drawings of weddings, of children carrying giant fruits on their heads or of packed tap-taps (public buses).Claude Dambreville
Born in Port-au-Prince on December 17 1934, he directed Radio Tropiques, a commercial radio station, from 1956 to 1968 before entering the Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince in 1968 where he learned and perfected his painting technique. He is married (with two children) to the daughter of Petion Savain, artist of the first generation of Haitian painters whom he met at the Centre d’Art. Using blue and grey colour tones, playing with shadows, the force and strength of his works rests in his ability to represent the strength, the dignity and the grace of the persons, mostly market people, who are his subjects. He has exhibited in New York, Boston, New Orleans, Guyana, Haiti, Paris (1990), Ivory Coast, Mexico (1993). Dambreville is also a writer and journalist.Patrick Deslouches
Born in Port-au-Prince on March 19 1961, he turned full-time painter after attending an art school in 1973, where he refined his technique. After studying under many of the better known artists in Haiti, he sold his first painting in 1982. He is best known for the luxuriousness and vibrancy of his colourful animal-populated jungle scenes.Abner Dubic
Born in Leogane on November 17 1948, he moved to Port-au-Prince when he was a child and has lived there ever since. Abner was inspired to paint when he saw the artist Gabriel Levecque painting in Croix de Bouquet, Haiti. He has since developed his personal style, usually painting scenes of the surrounding mountainous country side. His works have commanded high prices at the Parke Bernet Auction House in 1975, 77, 78, 79. He also
participated in two very successful exhibitions in Paris and Auxerre organised by Jean Marie Drot and Andre Malraux. His works are sold in galleries in Chicago, New York, Paris, and are included in many important private collections of Haitian Art.Prefete Duffaut
Born in Jacmel in 1923. In his youth, his only way of expressing himself was through drawings. In the 1940’s he met Rigaud Benoit and entered the Centre d’Art in 1948. A Naive painter, he started by painting scenes from his rural life in minute detail, later progressing to a more fantastic style. In 1951, he was commissioned to do a mural at the Cathedrale Episcopale de Port-au-Prince. In his, the first, generation of Haitian artists he emerged as the visionary painter, the builder of surreal and symbolic images and scenes.Charles Dufranc
Born in Jeremie on October 10 1949. After grade school, he moved with his parents to Port-au-Prince. After a brief attempt at sculpture he switched to painting in 1973. He has had various exhibitions in his own country, as well as in the United States and Venezuela. He is very popular in France and his work is shown in major galleries and exhibitions there.Francoise Eliassaint
Born in Puerto Principe in 1962, she was the companion and assistant of the famous artist-painter Andre Normil for many years until, encouraged by the latter, she started to paint herself at the Galerie Issa. In 1982, she joined the artists of the Saint-Soleil. Her subjects are often images of Virgins with children, or portraits of weddings.Roger Francois
Born in Petite-Riviere de l’Arbonite on October 15 1938 to merchant parents, he first became known for his work in wood sculpture under the tutelage of the well known sculptor Odilon Duperrier. In 1956 Roger started his own sculpture studio, which he later turned into a painting studio as well. He started painting in about 1970. Since then, the richness and variety of his works, often representing the Haitian woman, recalls his previous work in sculpture. He has exhibited in Europe (Brussels, Paris.....), the United States, Mexico, Santo Domingo, St.Maarten and Jamaica.Alfred Frenold
Born in Port-au-Prince on February 26 1969. He started painting in 1989, aided by his good friend, the painter J.E.Cadet. Like Cadet he, too, paints imaginary landscapes in pastel colours.Joel Gauthier
Born in Port-au-Prince on June 23 1955, he always had a preference for manual work. He started painting in 1972. He has two distinctive styles: one the one hand, jungle scenes populated by a wide variety of animals; on the other hand, paintings of women in the style of the artist Jean-Rene Jerome. He has exhibited in France, the United States, Mexico....Gerard Fortune
Born in the 1920's in Petionville, Gerard did not start painting until relatively late in his life (ca.1980's). A Voodoo priest, Gerard's work is highly valued by serious collectors. He was given prominent mention in Seldon Rodman's book, "Where Art is Joy - Haitian Art". He is, like so many Haitian artists, entirely self-taught.Rene Haspil
Born in Port-au-Prince on March 28 1954. In his youth he was a recognized soccer player until, in 1970, he decided to start painting under the tutelage of Ernst Laurent, son of Casimir Laurent. His acrylic paintings distinguish themselves for “l’enchevetrement de ses reliefs qui permettent un effet en trompe l’oeil.”J.C.Hector
J.C.Hector began painting sometime in the 1980's, and quickly established himself as a highly desirable and collectible artist. His works have been in numerous exhibitions in the USA, as well as in Europe and Mexico. His fantasy landscapes and cities, usually surrounded by water, have a soft and dream-like quality.Raymond La Faille
Raymond La Faille has emerged as an accomplished and recognized painter, and his works are increasingly sought-after by collectors of Haitian art.Philton Latortue
Born in Port-au-Prince on June 4 1944, he was encouraged to take up painting by his brother Franklin, himself a painter. After studying at the Academie des Beaux Arts in Port-au-Prince, he joined the Centre d’Art in 1962 and later worked at the Galerie Issa. He has participated in numerous exhibitions around the world and, in 1980, won the “Prix du Meilleur Naif” in Germany. He paints mostly animal figures and scenes of rural life in
Haiti.Jean Bruno Louisius
Born in Jeremie in the Southwest of Haiti on January 18 1952, he started drawing when a child. Later, he worked as a ebeniste-carpenter. To assure his future, he moved to Port-au-Prince in 1974 and started painting. His initial subjects were landscapes and still lifes, until, in 1982, he started painting market scenes in the style he has become renowned for.Franz Mathieu
Born in Petionville on February 2 1967, he started painting in 1983 on the advice of his grand-frere Michel Louis, himself a painter of “wild jungles”. Since then, he has spent most of his career painting jungle scenes with colourful birds.Pierre Maxo
Pierre Maxo is a relatively young painter, born in 1969, whose works are becoming increasingly popular amongst collectors of Haitian art. He was a student of the well-known Haitian painter, Gabriel Alix. Similar in style, Maxo's paintings are distinguished by the brightness and vividness of their colours.Andre Normil
Born in Port-au-Prince on September 26 1934, he started painting at the Centre d’Art in 1951 after working as an illustrator. His work has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines, among them the New York Times and the Washington Post. His main exhibitions have been Madrid (1955), London (1969), Spoletto (1970), Modene (1981), Zurich (1975), Sotheby Parke Bernet (1970’s), Paris (1971, 78, 80, 87, 90). In his work, Normil marries historical and biblical scenes and themes to those of life in contemporary Haiti. Normil is regarded as one of the ten best contemporary Haitian painters.Andre Pierre
Andre Pierre was born in Port-au-Prince in 1916. From an early age, he was drawn to Voodoo, and he later became a Voodoo priest. He initially illustrated his beliefs by painting on the inside of "gourds", which are used in Voodoo ceremonies and usually contain the blood of sacrificed animals or other offerings to the loas. His paintings are often highly-detailed, and painted in bright and vivid colours. Andre Pierre is considered the spiritual heir to the great Haitian painter, Hyppolite. Pierre is one of Haiti's greatest painters, and his works are highly-valued among collectors of Haitian art.Fernand Pierre
Born in Carrefour near Port-au-Prince on July 1 1919, he was a wood carver (carving small decorative animals) and engraver before turning to painting by entering the Centre d’Art in 1948. In 1951 he completed a mural (“La Visitation”) at the Cathedrale Ste.Trinite de Port-au-Prince. At the beginning of the 1970’s he left Haiti to join his family abroad. He did not return until 20 years later. His works often feature the old style “Gingerbread” houses one can still see in the country, as well as jungles and imaginary trees full of fruits and flowers. Pierre has exhibited in the United States and Europe. Fernand Pierre died in 2002.Jerome Polycarpe
Born in Port-au-Prince on November 6 1950, he was a professor of mathematics and painted in his free time. His first two paintings were selected by Jean Marie Drot and Andre Malraux for two exhibitions in Paris and Auxerres. He joined the Galerie Issa in 1975. His earlier works often depict scenes from contemporary Haitian life (such as cock fights); his later works are vibrantly colourful jungle scenes populated by a rich variety of
animals. His paintings are sold in galleries in Paris, Germany, the United States, Italy, Jamaica and the Antilles. He appears in Max Fourny’s two books, “La fete et les Naifs” “Le reve et les Naifs”.Dieudonne Rouanez
Born on the 21st of May 1920 in Petionville, he attended the Freres de l'Instruction School and became a carpenter. He began painting in the late forties and in 1950 he joined the "Foyers des Arts Plastiques" which consisted mostly of artists who had broken away from the Centre d'Art. Rouanez' paintings mainly consist of crowd scenes depicting Haitiens at the market, voodoo celebrations and typical rural life. Among the shows that he has participated in are the Biennale de Sao Paulo, Brazil; Festival of Two Worlds, Spoletto, Italy, 1970; Portal Gallery Group Show, London 1970.Audes Saul
Born in Bombardopolis in Northern Haiti in May 1949, he was a carpenter, then an electrician before discovering painting through his brother Charles, who himself had been encouraged to paint by Baptist missionaries. Charles joined the Galerie Issa in 1971 and his success soon inspired Audes. He moved to Port-au-Prince and has sinced worked with the Galerie. Some of his paintings were selected by Jean-Marie Drot and Andre Malraux
for exhibition in Paris and Auxerre in 1975. Since then, he has exhibited in numerous countries, including Italy, Sweden, France, the United States and Japan (where his work is highly valued). His works can be found in a number of private collections ( Arthur Haughton, David Bailey...).Roland St.Hubert
Roland St. Hubert was born on December 29, 1951 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He attended the Lycee Petion, and then the Lycee Toussaint Louverture. He became interested in art as a young boy, and started to paint, under the tutelage of his uncle, the well-known Haitian painter Emmanuel Ducasse, when he was in his early 20's. He was also influenced by the works of the Saint Soleil painters. His work is sought after by collectors of Haitian art worldwide, and he has exhibited in the United States, Canada, Jamaica and South America, as well as in France (at the special invitation of Daniele Mitterand, the wife of then French President, Francois Mitterand).Josapha Tissaint
Born in Baptiste near the Dominican border in October 1953, he worked in a pharmacy in Port-au-Prince until 1973, when he decided to dedicate himself fully to painting and joined the Foyer des Arts Plastiques. His style evolved from classical landscapes to imaginary towns and cities in the style of Prefete Duffaut, with whom he worked in 1975. In 1977 he joined the other artists in the Galerie Issa. His sense of composition, his use of
colour and the precision of his brush ensures that his work is highly valued in the galleries of St.Martin, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Milan,.... In the late 1980’s, he rediscovered his earlier style and once again started painting jungles and animal scenes.Michel Valestin
Michel Valestin was born in Port-au-Prince in 1962. His paintings are usually of "sea scenes" - boats, seaside towns and harbours. A relatively young painter, Valestin's style is still evolving - and his works are very popular with collectors in the USA and Europe.Antoinette Valmidor
Born in Port-au-Prince on November 2 1950. Valmidor, a cook by profession, has been painting in her free time since 1973. She has no formal training, relying on what she picked up at art class in school. Her style is very unique and personal: she paints mostly events and scenes from everyday life (marriages, baptisms, communions), with a preference for scenes with children. She has exhibited in Paris (Espace Cardin 1990), the United States (Washington, Miami), Mexico (1993)....Jacques Valmidor
Born in Port-au-Prince on July 1 1955, he started painting in 1963. He paints scenes from everyday life, animals, etc. He has exhibited in Paris (1990), the United States, Mexico....Jean Walton
Jean Walton was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1979. He started painting as a little boy. He is one of the youngest Haitian artists, and his work, typically strong and brightly-coloured scenes depicting market folk in rural settings, is becoming increasingly popular with collectors of Haitian art. He is unmarried, and now lives and works in the Dominican Republic.