Philippe Attie

Acquired directly from the artist

In the collection of the Art Renewal Center, 2023

Opa Locka, FL, Arts and Recreation Center, The Art of Transformation, December 1 - December 4, 2022

New York, Sotheby’s, 16th International ARC Salon Exhibition, July 14 – 24, 2023

Various authors, International Realism: 16th International ARC Salon, ACC Art Books, Woodbridge, Suffolk 2023, illustrated p. 79

“‘If you don't repent of your worship of the devils, you'll perish in hell.’ This phrase was often echoed throughout places I grew up in Haiti and was used as a strategy to destroy the religion or practices of Vodou.

During the colonial era, Vodou became the symbol for all that was nonwestern, undeveloped, and uncivilized. It represented a great threat to the colonialists who understood it’s socio-political power, it’s capacity to motivate revolt and ultimately break the colonial order. Despite strict prohibition, Vodou was one of the few practices that slaves had autonomy over. It was a source of psychological freedom and enabled them to reaffirm their existence as human beings.

This painting is inspired by one of the texts the church used as an oath during the “rejete” campaign, a violent campaign by the Catholic Church against the Vodou religion, which involved the widespread desecration of shrines in an attempt to force the peasantry to abandon their native practices.” – Philippe Attie

Born in Seguin, Haiti, (b. 1986), Philippe Attie moved to the United States after a catastrophic earthquake caused devastation to his home country in 2010. He is a contemporary realist artist, now living and working in Florida. His start in the world of art came when he was just 12-years- old when he began teaching himself how to paint. By the time he was 16, he gained an apprenticeship with renowned artists, Ralph Allen, and later on, Richard Barbot. In 2005, his realistic art pieces were featured at the Haitian Museum of Art in Champs-de-Mars, Haiti. Along with this, his work has been displayed in the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain, Salmagundi Club, NYC, and Rehs Contemporary Galleries in NYC. Following these prestigious exhibitions, the Canadian Le Balcon d'Art, Montréal and Sotheby's Los Angeles, have also featured his work to art lovers from all around the world.

Philippe continues to practice his passion. His ability to bring ideas and viewpoints to life have earned him achievements such as being an ARC Salon finalist in the International Art Renewal Center Salons from 2013 to 2023. From the same competition, he has also earned a number of awards over the years including: the Rehs Contemporary Galleries Award (2015), an honorable mention and an ARC Purchase Award (2018), a FWSD Award (2019), and the Best Social Commentary with this work of “Imprints” in the 15th International ARC Salon Competition.