Calixte Henry (Haitian, 1933-2010)

Calixte Henry (January 3, 1933–2010) was a Haitian painter born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, recognized for a refined, minimalist approach to form and an exceptional sensitivity to color. He began painting at the Centre d’Art in 1955 under the guidance of the American painter Barbara Obris. Over time, Henry developed a distinctive technique, abandoning traditional brushes in favor of razor blades—later also working with a knife—allowing him to achieve heightened finesse, transparency, and control in his surfaces. In Henry’s paintings, extraneous detail is deliberately eliminated to produce a sober, highly refined line. He creates volume primarily through tonal contrast rather than dense modeling, balancing simplified drawing with carefully orchestrated color harmony. His palette is especially noted for its nuanced range of greens and blues, from which he draws subtle vibrations and luminous shifts. He also explored softer, more pastel tonalities with reduced contrast. As noted in Haitian art references including La Peinture Haïtienne / Haitian Arts and Peintres Haïtiens, Henry is associated with a largely monochrome style and a preference for green, pink, or blue tonal families. Scroll down to make your selection (s)!