Biography

Philippe Dodard studied at the Academy of Fine Arts (now ENARTS) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In 1978, he obtained a scholarship to the École Nationale de Bordeaux, France, where he specialized in educational graphics, perfecting his skills in this captivating field. Shortly after, he also explored political caricature in the Haitian daily paper Le Nouvelliste.

Throughout this maturation, Dodard’s work freed itself from any school and conventions to explore the cultures fused in the constitution of Caribbean identity: The Taino-Arawak, African, and European.  The works quickly attracted the attention of researchers, collectors, and institutions. American fashion designer Donna Karan took inspiration from them for her 2012 Spring Collection, which gave rise to a joint exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA).

Philippe Dodard’s career and commitment underscore his profound influence on the Haitian and international artistic scene. For Babacar MBow, “Dodard develops a visual language to comprehend the enduring crises that afflict humanity, and to seize control of the contemporary Haitian narrative, far from the dynamic of subjugation emanating from the fictional international discourse, which perpetuates the exploitation and degradation of the popular masses. »

Dodard’s aim is to present the world “as it could be”.

Dodard’s career and trajectory have garnered numerous accolades, a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication. These include: First Prize for drawing at Petit Séminaire Collège St-Martial in 1966, Best country presentation at the Biennale Del Caribe y Centro America in 1996, Knight of the National Order of the Lion of Senegal in 2019, and the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship of the Rotary International Foundation in 2023. In January 2024, Dodard unveiled his mosaic Radiant Azure, adorning the “Sun Deck Suite” of the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship of the Royal Caribbean. Dodard’s work has been the subject of several publications, including Soir d’Encrier (Collection Marassa, 1992), Philippe Dodard: The Idea of Modernity in Haitian Contemporary Art (Babacar MBow, Ed. 2009).