Roland Dorcely (Haitian, 1930-2017)

Roland Dorcely (November 18, 1930–2017) was a major Haitian modern painter born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, whose career bridged Haitian modernism and European abstraction. He received his early education at Saint-Louis de Gonzague and Lycée Pétion before joining the Centre d’Art in 1946. That same year, Dorcely traveled to France, where he studied with Fernand Léger and André Masson, two leading figures of European modernism whose influence contributed to his formal rigor and experimental approach. Upon returning to Haiti, Dorcely became actively involved in the country’s postwar artistic movements. He participated in the Hall of Plastic Arts and, in 1954, co-founded the influential Brochette group with Luckner Lazard. His work from this period reflects a dynamic engagement with abstraction, structure, and modern visual language. In 1947, he received the First Prize awarded by President Dumarsais Estimé at a major Haitian exhibition, marking his early recognition at the national level. Dorcely returned to France in 1962 and lived in Paris for several years, continuing to exhibit internationally. From 1946 to 1961, his work was shown extensively in France and the United States, followed by exhibitions in Colombia and Canada between 1961 and 1977. He returned to Haiti in 1969, maintaining a presence in both local and international art circles. His paintings entered numerous private and institutional collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2023, Dorcely’s importance within modern art history was further affirmed when the Musée National d’Art Moderne / Centre Pompidou included his work in its permanent collections. Today, Roland Dorcely is recognized as one of the leading figures of modern Haitian painting, whose legacy reflects a sustained dialogue between Haitian cultural identity and international modernism. Scroll Down to Make Your Selection (s)!