Bernard Séjourné (Haitian, 1947-1994)

Bernard Séjourné, born on November 20, 1947, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was a celebrated Haitian painter and sculptor known for his role in the School of Beauty, a movement that celebrated women as symbols of elegance, grace, and strength. His paintings often depicted women, flowers, and occasional landscapes, created with sophistication and harmony. Séjourné mainly worked on large Masonite panels with acrylics, producing fluid lines that suggest rhythm and movement. His color palette ranged from cool, calming tones to bright tropical shades. As Gérald Alexis noted in Peintres Haïtiens (2000), “Séjourné’s mastery of space and volume create near-abstract works of referential elements.” He first exhibited in 1965 at Calfou and the Esso Salon in Port-au-Prince, then showcased his work at major international venues, including the Festival of Black Art in Dakar (1966), Montreal Expo (1967), and the French Institute of Haiti (1972). Throughout his career, Séjourné’s paintings were highly admired and became even more sought after after his passing in 1994. A notable moment came in 1986 when Baron Philippe de Rothschild commissioned one of his paintings for the label of his Château Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac vintage. Scroll down to make your selection (s)!