2023: Fourteen paintings from the Centre d’Art collection were restored

From January to July 2023, fourteen (14) paintings from the Centre d’Art’s permanent collection were newly restored — including one by Jasmin Joseph — thanks to the support of Bank of America (BOA).

Following the January 12, 2010 earthquake, the Smithsonian Institution’s Haitian Cultural Heritage Rescue Project made it possible to save a large portion of the Centre d’Art’s collection, which had been severely impacted by the disaster.

Some of the artworks had suffered damage from the earthquake and required urgent restoration. Since 2014, the Centre d’Art has undertaken a restoration program, selecting works from its collection that have become worn and fragile with the passing of time.

Between January and July 2023, fourteen (14) paintings were restored thanks to financial support from Bank of America. The Centre for the Conservation of Cultural Property at Quisqueya University (CCC-UniQ) handled part of the restoration work, while Jean Ménard Derenoncourt — a painter and expert in the restoration of Haitian artworks — took care of the rest.

The restored works are by Damien Paul, Joseph Rameau, Jasmin Joseph, Gladys Laurent, Franck Louissaint, Julien Clermont, Prospère Pierre-Louis, and Jorelus Joseph.

Since the beginning of the restoration program, one hundred and eighty-one (181) artworks have been restored. Another three hundred (300), already identified as needing restoration, are still awaiting treatment.

Since its founding in 1944, the Centre d’Art has been dedicated to collecting and preserving Haitian artworks. Its permanent collection now includes over five thousand (5,000) pieces. It continues to grow year after year and stands as one of the most important collections in the history of Haitian art.

The Centre d’Art is strengthening its expertise in the conservation and management of this vast heritage. It is committed to:

• restoring exceptional works from its collection to make them accessible to the public
• preserving its artworks in optimal conditions
• continuing the digitization of its permanent collection
• acquiring works by contemporary artists and other key figures in the history of Haitian art to expand and diversify the collection
• developing partnerships with Haitian and international cultural institutions that hold Haitian artworks