Rigaud Benoit (Haitian, 1911-1986)

Rigaud Benoit became, well before his death, one of the most highly prized and respected Haitian artists. An early member of Haiti’s Naïve Art movement—celebrated for its artists’ limited formal training and authentic, intuitive vision—Benoit was closely associated with the Centre d’Art, founded in 1944 by the American Dewitt Peters. His talent and growing reputation led to his selection as one of the few artists commissioned to paint the historic interior murals of the Cathedral of Sainte Trinité in Port-au-Prince. Throughout his career, Benoit developed a distinctive style marked by precise draftsmanship, refined muted colors, and a gentle sense of humor, especially visible in his narrative depictions of Haitian daily life. His later works explored surrealist themes, often portraying Vodou spirits (lwas) and ceremonial imagery with imagination and symbolic depth. Benoit married the daughter of his friend Hector Hyppolite, Haiti’s first internationally recognized artist and still one of the most celebrated figures in Haitian art history. Benoit continued to paint both narrative and surrealist works until his death, leaving behind a powerful body of work that remains central to the development of Haitian modern art. Scroll down to browse his arts!