Jorelus Joseph (Haitian, 1947-2009)

The late self-taught Haitian artist was born in 1947 and died in 2009. Jorelus was awarded a Gold Medal at the 3rd Biennial of Caribbean & Central American Artists at the Museum of Modern Art of the Dominican Republic-1996. Although not formally initiated, Jorélus was a fervent attendee of Voodoo ceremonies, stating, "I constantly attend Voodoo ceremonies as an inspiration for my paintings." From 1991 to 2007, his art was exhibited in many cities across Haiti, including Le Centre d’Art and Musée d’Art Haïtien du Collège St-Pierre. He had two exhibitions in 1994 and 1995 at The Musée d’Art Naif, Lasne, Belgium. He participated in 1996 at the Biennial of Santo Domingo, winning a gold medal. In 1998 he exhibited at Le Musee d’Art Naïf de Vicq en Ile-de-France, International d’Arts Naifs, France. In 2000, he had a show at the Coral Spring Museum of Art in Florida, USA. In 2001, he was at the Caribbean and Latin America Art Foundation in Saint Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2007 Las Dos Tiernas Orillas: Pintura Ingenua A Ambos Lados Del  Atlántico, Dominican Republic.