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CALIXTE HENRY

Calixte Henry was born in Port-au-Prince, January 3, 1933. His father was a mechanical engineer in the navy, his mother a dressmaker. After leaving school he got a job as a telegraph operator. Henry joined the Art Center in 1955 and remained there until 1959. He started painting professionally in 1958. His first paintings were na•ve in style but he soon became interested in impressionism and cubism, particularly the works of Braque and Seurat. He experimented with cubism but was not successful. In an attempt to find a style that would have clean lines and broader appeal he tried using razor blades instead of brushes, painting in an impressionistic manner. Soon he was using the palette knife exclusively, creating works that were refined and elegant. While his compositions are usually simple and direct, his use of color is quite unique. He uses bold, vibrant colors that clash, more than blend to create an effect that is both startling and compelling. He is considered a master painter of Haiti and has inspired and trained many students. His works are widely exhibited, both in individual and group shows, in Haiti, in France, in Switzerland, and in the U. S. where he won special mention from the Guggenheim Foundation in New York.