Salnave Philippe Auguste (Haitian, 1908-1989)

Salnave Philippe-Auguste was born on January 27, 1908, and died in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on June 2, 1989. He was one of the first Haitian painters to develop jungle scenes, creating imaginative compositions where animals, figures, and symbolic elements coexist. A self-educated lawyer and magistrate, he began painting in 1958 and joined the Centre d’Art in 1960. His work is known for vivid colors, flat surfaces, and richly detailed scenes filled with fruit trees, winged figures, and references to Haitian beliefs. Gérald Alexis noted that his work forms a “humorous inventory of popular beliefs.”Philippe-Auguste exhibited in Haiti and the United States, and his paintings remain highly sought after by collectors for their originality, vibrant color, and important place in Haitian art. Explore his availbable works below.