Yves Michaud (Haitian, 1950-2025)

Yves Michaud (January 27, 1950–March 29, 2025) was a Haitian painter born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, renowned for his intimate and emotionally nuanced depictions of everyday Haitian life. He began painting in 1969 under the guidance of the respected Haitian master Néhémy Jean, developing a strong technical foundation rooted in figurative realism. In the mid-1970s, Michaud formed a close friendship with the influential Haitian impressionist Carlo Jean-Jacques, an association that further refined his sensitivity to atmosphere, gesture, and human presence. Michaud’s paintings are distinguished by their ability to elevate ordinary subjects through subtle body language and expressive facial features, placing figures in a quiet, almost ethereal space while maintaining a strong sense of realism. His work conveys dignity, warmth, and psychological depth, positioning him among the most refined interpreters of daily life in modern Haitian art. Around the year 2000, Michaud adopted a markedly different artistic direction and began painting under the name Georges Desarmes. This transition created a clear separation between his earlier and later bodies of work. As a result, paintings signed Yves Michaud have become increasingly scarce, contributing to growing interest among collectors and scholars of Haitian art. Scroll down to make your selection (s)!