You don’t have to travel across the globe to appreciate Haitian art.
The Ellen Noël Art Museum will begin displaying “Vizyon: Art by Young Visionaries” from the New Vision Art School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The pop-up exhibit, or a temporary art event, is scheduled to be shown in the building’s rotunda until March 3.
The showcase will include 10 art pieces by eight artists who attend the New Vision Art School. Lesly Pierre Paul founded the school, encouraging children and young adults to explore their roots through art. Art sold by the students helps provide funds for the school.
At the heart of their work are vibrant colors, depicting spirits entwined with nature-inspired motifs reflecting on the area’s history and culture.
“There are those themes, but there’s also their pain and their culture and what they’ve used their personal experiences that we’re seeing,” Ellen Noël Art Museum Curator Daniel Zies said.
At the heart of these creations lies a prevalent theme — Voodoo, or Vodou in Haitian Creole. This spiritual practice, rooted in what is now present-day Benin, West Africa, was transplanted to the New World by African slaves.
Vodou, a cornerstone of Haiti’s history, served as a catalyst for rebellion and the founding of the nation in 1804. In these artworks, the lwa, spiritual entities bridging earthly and divine realms, are vividly portrayed — many syncretized with Catholic saints — a symbolic fusion of cultural legacies.
The museum will display the art provided by a board member’s private collection. Zies said the art will allow patrons to view a different perspective on the Haitian community.
“Not only is it cool to have a story behind the pieces, but it’s also a way that helps and supports a community,” he said
If you go
- What: Vizyon: Art by Young Visionaries.
- When: Through March 3. Hours are noon until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and noon to 8 p.m., Thursday. The museum is closed on Mondays and holidays.
- Where: Ellen Noël Art Museum, 4919 E. University Blvd.
- Cost: Free.
- Call: 432-550-9696 for more information.
