Hello and Welcome to Lakaye Abi Art
My name is Abigael Jean-Baptiste, born and raised in Haiti. My mission is to make the world aware of the vibrant and unique fine arts of Haiti.
We at Lakaye Abi Art, are proud and honored to showcase the broad range of art from gifted, Haitian artists, who are continuing to evolve naïve art and inspire a new generation of young artists. Enjoy the unique pieces that we have commissioned in order to offer to you!
All About Haitian Art
Beautiful expressions out of a history, colonialism, revolution, independence, religion, joy, hope, and triumphs.
Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the neighboring country of the Dominican Republic. The island was originally inhabited by peoples of the Taino and Arawak, and later colonized by France, who brought Africans as slaves to develop the island. The Haitian people have always been fierce revolutionaries and hence they were the first island in the Caribbean to fight and gain independence in 1804.
The history and influences on Haitian art is as colorful as the art itself. In the early 1800s, various art academies were established in Port-au-Prince, where many of the artists painted in a style similar to European artists. However, local Haitian artists, not trained in the manner of European art academies, began to develop a more colorful, self-expressive style of art called naïve or outsider art. This is the type of art that has come to characterize modern day Haitian art. The art is bold, colorful, and vibrant. Subjects like nature, religion, politics and everyday life are depicted in today’s Haitian art form, which allows global citizens to identify with Haitian art.
