For over three many years, textile artist Myrlande Fixed has depicted scenes from Haitian historical past, faith, and each day life via the large-scale, labor-intensive beaded embroidery of conventional Vodou flags. Now, her work will be part of the everlasting assortment of the Fralin Museum of Artwork on the College of Virginia, as a part of a landmark present of roughly 100 fashionable and modern Haitian artworks from collectors John Fox Sullivan and his late spouse Beverly Sullivan.
The Sullivans had been longtime members of the Haitian Artwork Society and traveled to the Caribbean nation over two dozen occasions since 1977, amassing a complete assortment of Haitian art work over the course of 4 many years. In 2023, they gifted 15 work to the Nationwide Gallery of Artwork in Washington, DC, that are presently on show within the exhibition Spirit and Power: Trendy Artwork from Haiti.
Philomé Obin, “Paysans Sortant et Allant au Marche” (1953)
“The Sullivan collection includes some of Haiti’s most renowned artists and features a rare work by Hector Hyppolite, ‘Fete du Morts’ (1946–48), that was previously in the collection of Irving Berlin and has not before been on public display,” Karen E. Milbourne, director of the museum, instructed Hyperallergic.
Consisting of textile work, metalwork, assemblage, and work, the Fralin Museum’s acquisition options modern painters Frantz Zéphirin and Louisiane Saint Fleurant, in addition to Twentieth-century artists like Toussaint Jacques Auguste, Rigaud Benoît, and Philomé Obin, who had been all early members of Le Centre d’Artwork, one of many oldest cultural organizations within the Caribbean.
Peterson Laurent, “L’Eglise Paroisial de St Marc Haiti” (1953)
“Among the works by Philomé Obin is a self-portrait of the artist receiving a prize, as well as complementary works by his brother Sénèque Obin, allowing an opportunity to compare the artistic talent in this family,” Milbourne stated, including that most of the works reference Haitian politics and historical past, Christian and Vodou traditions, in addition to actions like farming and fishing.
A number of greater than 20 works will go on view within the exhibition Haiti’s Time, slated to open to the general public on August 30 and run via January 4, 2026. The present to the museum additionally contains the institution of the Sullivan Assortment Endowment for Entry and Training, which is able to assist the artworks’ care, analysis, and future programming.
Castera Bazile, “Cemetary” (1963)
Calixte Henry, “Air France” (1975)
Jasmin Joseph, “The Apocalypse” (1974)
Wilson Bigaud, “Zombi” (1965)
Castera Bazile, “Portrait of Henri Christophe” (1958)
