Bien-Aime Sylvain (Haitian, b.1936)

Bien-Aimé Sylvain was born on March 1, 1936, in Arcahaie, Haiti. After finishing his education, he worked in administration and later became an elementary school teacher before following his true passion for art. Inspired by fellow Haitian artists such as Pierre Eugène, Philton, and F. Latortue, Sylvain started drawing and painting in the 1960s, quickly developing a refined, narrative style rooted in the Haitian naïve tradition. In 1967, he joined the renowned Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince, where his work thrived under the influence of Haiti’s leading painters of the time. His compositions often depict lively rural scenes—farmers in motion, markets, and community gatherings—created with careful detail, balanced composition, and a strong sense of rhythm and harmony. Sylvain’s paintings celebrate Haiti’s everyday beauty and the dignity of its people, blending bright colors with lyrical storytelling. His work has been collected internationally, including by the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, and featured in Haiti: Voodoo Kingdom to Modern Riviera by John Allen Franciscus (1980, p. 90). Today, Bien-Aimé Sylvain is recognized as an important figure in the post-Centre d’Art generation who helped preserve and expand the language of Haitian naïve art. Scroll down to make your selection(s)!