Payas -Pierre-Sylvain Augustin (Haitian, 1941)

Pierre-Sylvain Augustin, known as Payas (b. 1941), is a Haitian painter born in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. He began painting in 1997, influenced by the late Saint-Soleil artist Prospère Pierre-Louis, and is associated with the continuation of the Saint-Soleil movement. In 1998, Payas was included among “The 13 New Saint-Soleil” painters and exhibited at the Institut Français d’Haïti, marking his early recognition within the Haitian art scene. That same year, his work was also presented at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., expanding his international exposure. In 2000, he exhibited in Paris at the Musée de la Halle Saint-Pierre as part of the exhibition Haïti: Anges et Démons, which highlighted contemporary Haitian artists influenced by spiritual and symbolic themes. Alongside his artistic practice, Payas is a pastor in a Baptist church in Soissons-La-Montagne. His paintings reflect a personal and spiritual perspective shaped by both his religious beliefs and his connection to the Saint-Soleil tradition. Explore his avilable works below.