Payas (Pierre-Sylvain Augustin) 30" x 26" Breath of the Lwa c2000 Acrylic on Canvas Unframed Painting #4JN-HA
Payas (Pierre-Sylvain Augustin) 30" x 26" Breath of the Lwa c2000 Acrylic on Canvas Unframed Painting #4JN-HA
Regular price
$0.00
Regular price
Sale price
$0.00
Unit price
per
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Certificate of Authenticity Included
Description
Description
“Breath of the Lwa” by Pierre-Sylvain Augustin, known as Payas, is a haunting composition built in layers of crimson, vermilion, and ember orange. Two faces emerge from the saturated field. The upper face gazes out with heavy-lidded eyes and a long, glowing yellow nose, while a smaller inverted face rests below, joined by a flame-like, bird-like form rising between them, as if a spirit were carried on breath. Jagged, gold-edged borders frame both sides like curtains or wings, and a small yellow sun glows in the upper right corner.
The mottled surface gives the red a deep, smoldering quality, with soft passages of olive and violet that add atmosphere and depth. The dreamlike, symbolic imagery speaks to the spiritual and introspective currents found throughout contemporary Haitian painting. It is signed “Payas” in gold at the lower right. The painting is in good condition, consistent with its age. A certificate of authenticity accompanies the work.
About this artist
About this artist
Pierre-Sylvain Augustin, known as Payas (December 12, 1941 – October 23, 2026), was a Haitian painter born in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. He began painting in 1997 under the influence of the late Saint-Soleil artist Prospère Pierre-Louis, and he 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, an early milestone in the Haitian art scene. That same year, his work was presented at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., extending his reach to an international audience. In 2000, he exhibited in Paris at the Musée de la Halle Saint-Pierre in Haïti: Anges et Démons, an exhibition of contemporary Haitian artists drawn to spiritual and symbolic themes. Alongside his artistic practice, Payas served as a pastor of a Baptist church in Soissons-la-Montagne. His paintings carry a personal, spiritual outlook shaped by his faith and his connection to the Saint-Soleil tradition.
