Harry Jacques-Arijac (Haitian, b.1937)

Harry Jacques, known professionally as Arijac (b. August 11, 1937, Gonaïves, Haiti), is a Haitian painter widely recognized for his mastery of encaustic painting, a technique combining beeswax, pigments, and turpentine to create luminous layered surfaces. Originally trained as an architect and draftsman, Arijac studied architecture through the International Correspondence School before dedicating himself to painting. He later worked with Sacha Thébaud (Tebo), who introduced him to the encaustic technique that became central to his artistic practice. Arijac’s work merges architectural structure with poetic symbolism inspired by Haiti’s landscapes and culture. Since the 1960s, his paintings have been exhibited internationally, including at the Haitian-American Institute, the French Institute, and the São Paulo Biennial. Today he is regarded as one of the leading figures of modern Haitian art, and his luminous encaustic paintings remain highly sought after by collectors. Explore available works below.