ETIENNE CHAVANNES
(1939 - )

Color and activity are the hallmarks of paintings by this native of Cap-Haitien, who worked for a health association before turning to art. Etienne Chavannes studied with Philome Obin in 1967, joining the Centre d’Art in 1971. Daily life in the countryside interests him, whether the subject is a wedding, a Masonic parade or a soccer game. His paintings are filled with people. The breakthrough of Chavannes’ success, in his opinion, came as a result of the landmark exhibition of Haitian art at the Brooklyn Museum in New York in 1978. Other expositions followed in France, Belgium and Germany. Chavannes was one of three artists, along with Edger Jean-Baptiste and Ernst Prophete, shown at Ramapo College in Ramapo, New Jersey in an exhibition curated by Jonathan Demme in late 1994. Chavannes was also featured in the accompanying catalog called “Haiti: Three Visions.”

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