Gabriel Leveque (Haitian, 1923-2013)

Gabriel Lévêque (1923–2013), born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, was a notable Haitian painter and a key figure in the early Haitian Renaissance art movement. In 1948, he was chosen—alongside Philomé Obin, Castera Bazile, Wilson Bigaud, and Rigaud Benoit—to paint the historic murals of the Episcopal Cathedral of Sainte Trinité in Port-au-Prince. His angels were positioned above the main altar, part of one of the most admired artistic commissions in Haiti’s cultural history. Sadly, these masterpieces were destroyed during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Lévêque was known for his luminous palette, harmonious compositions, and religious themes rooted in Haiti’s spiritual traditions. As art historian Gérald Alexis notes in Peintres Haïtiens, “the soft colors Lévêque uses are well suited to his holy pictures.” His refined style and devotional subjects earned him recognition among scholars, collectors, and major institutions. His works have been exhibited internationally and are part of esteemed collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. According to John Allen Franciscus in Haiti: Voodoo Kingdom to Modern Riviera, the Cathedral mural project—organized under the vision of Bishop Alfred Voegeli with early guidance from Selden Rodman and William Calfee—was a pivotal moment that brought Lévêque and his peers lasting recognition. Today, Gabriel Lévêque remains an admired figure in Haitian art. His peaceful, spiritually meaningful paintings continue to attract collectors and play a vital role in preserving Haiti’s artistic renaissance legacy. Scroll Down To Make Your Selection (s)!