Roots, Rhythms & Myths:

 

Extraordinary! How did a small island nation, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, find international acclaim for the leading Primitive art movement of the 20 th century? The recognition started in 1943, with the founding of DeWitt Peters’ Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince. Those first generation artists - voodoo priests, furniture makers, and farmers alike - gathered there for aid, art supplies and a connection to the larger art world. Haitian painting traditions were uncontaminated by Western precedents, and the art was labeled “naïve,” “folk” and “primitive.” It was a mix of African memory, a history of slavery and independence, voodoo traditions, and the joi de vivre of an island paradise.

In 1947, Andre Breton included Haitian paintings in his famous book “Surrealism and Painting.” Other critics and writers compared Haitian artists to Gaugin and Rousseau. Famous Cuban painter Wilfredo Lam came to Haiti and exhibited his work at the Centre d’Art. Haitian art burst into the cultural consciousness of the international art establishment and has remained without borders ever since.

Gallery C has been a leading Haitian art dealer since the 1980’s. The gallery has exhibited Haitian oil drum art, beautiful Artibonite fantasy landscapes, Voodoo art of Erzulie and other loas, Haitian paintings of simple village life much more. We have showcased island art by such renowned artists as Claude Dambreville, Wilson Bigaud, Prosper Pierre-Louis, and Calixte Henri just to name a few. Above you will find a sampling of current offerings, but please return often to see where the spirit of Haiti takes you.