Artist Gallery
Eric Jean-Louis Art Gallery
Artist Info.
Nationality: Haitian
Medium: Painting
Eric Jean-Louis was born in 1957 in Jeremie, the "Town of Poets," on the southwestern tip of Haiti. He joined the Galerie Monnin in the mid-1970s, a period in which the movement known as the School of Jacmel was evolving. It would be more accurate to refer to this movement as the School of Monnin, as it was the ateliers of this gallery on the Grand Rue that brought together the young artists of the third generation, who worked, taught, and learned from one another. With close encouragement from Michel Monnin, they developed brilliant techniques that they combined with their bizarre imaginations. Jean-Marie Drot called these artists "sophisticated primitives." The atelier was open twenty-four hours a day, and depending on the time of day, was frequented by painters or visitors, including the Blaise brothers, St. Louis, Serge and Fabolon, or Jean-Louis Senatus, Nicholas Dreux, Calixte Henri, Carlo Jean-Jacques, Simil, and the Sanons from Jacmel, to name but a few. In retrospect, it was a glorious time for Haitian Art.
Jean-Louis worked in south Florida, where he taught in the North Miami public library system; in 2006, he was awarded the Artist of the Year Trophy at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Haiti.
Extremely passionate about the renaissance of Haiti, Jean-Louis has worked tirelessly with numerous non-profit organizations, including the Foundation Jacques Stephen Alexis, to promote the renewal of Haitian art and the culture of his motherland in general.
Jean-Louis’ paintings depict different religious scenes as well as events from his country’s history, such as the Haitian revolution and most recently, the earthquake of 2010. His earthquake series is a tribute to those who lost their lives in the earthquake in Haiti that took place on January 12, 2010.
All artworks displayed in the Sankoka Art Gallery are property of the artist and they are the sole copyright holders. No works of art are to be copy or use for any purpose what so ever without the written consent of the artist. Anyone interested in purchasing a work of art or have any questions please email sagallery@sankofaarchives.com
