Overview:
Haitian-American artist Sophia LaCroix brings Roots and Realism: A Haitian Artist’s Memory to Pompano Seashore, Florida. The exhibition, opening April 18 at Ali Cultural Arts Heart, showcases hyper-realistic work of Haiti within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, exploring nostalgia and resilience.
Searching for one thing enjoyable to do that April? Step into the bustling markets, sun-drenched streets, and quiet household moments of Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties Haiti by the eyes of artist Sophia LaCroix. Her newest exhibition, “Roots and Realism: A Haitian Artist’s Memory,” opens April 18 on the Ali Cultural Arts Heart, situated simply north of Fort Lauderdale in Pompano Seashore, working by June 21.
A self-taught Haitian-American artist, LaCroix is understood for her hyper-realistic oil work and charcoal portraits that vividly seize the textures and vibrancy of on a regular basis Haitian life. From the wealthy scent of frying plantains to the intricate patterns of retailers’ woven baskets, her artwork brings again the Haiti of her childhood—the one that also exists within the reminiscences of many, even when they will now not return.
“I paint the Haiti that I can’t return to,” LaCroix stated in a 2023 interview with The Haitian Occasions. “The Haiti of the 70s and early 80s nonetheless exists in my thoughts, and my artwork permits me to revisit it.”
An artist formed by nostalgia and resilience
Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, LaCroix immigrated to Florida in 1984 as a youngster on a full tutorial scholarship. Whereas her creative type has earned her recognition throughout the U.S., her early profession confronted resistance from galleries that anticipated Haitian artwork to suit a selected mildew.
“All of the galleries in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, once I created this physique of labor, informed me, ‘This isn’t Haitian artwork. It’s not primitive,’” the Miami-based artist recalled, referring to her Haitian market items in 2023. “That didn’t make sense to me—as a result of it’s artwork, and I’m Haitian.”
Undeterred, she leaned into her ardour, utilizing her work to show her “distinctive expertise” with the intention to safe a U.S. inexperienced card. As we speak, her work has been featured in main exhibitions, public murals, and everlasting collections, together with on the Little Haiti Cultural Heart and Florida Worldwide College.
Opening reception particulars
The exhibition kicks off with a gap reception on April 18 from 6 to 9 p.m., the place guests can meet LaCroix and expertise her work up shut. Admission is free, however area is proscribed, so attendees are inspired to register prematurely.
When: April 18 – June 21
Opening Reception: April 18, 6–9 p.m. (RSVP beneficial)For individuals who lengthy for a bit of Haiti’s previous or need to expertise its magnificence by a brand new lens, Roots and Realism is a must-see. Whether or not you’re Haitian-born or just curious in regards to the nation’s wealthy tradition, LaCroix’s work supply an intimate, deeply private journey right into a world that continues to reside on—if not in actuality, then on canvas.