Using a combination of oils and acrylics, Haitian artist Monel Aliote crafts masterful portraits that penetrate the mere likeness of a person, going beyond to depict the passion and soul of the individual. Focusing particularly on famous or influential individuals who are working to make changes in the world, his work aims to tell the story of the individual by evoking their character, emotions, attitudes, intentions, and mood. Inspired by music culture such as that of jazz, rock and roll, and R&B, many of the figures Aliote chooses to paint are musicians and performers who he read about and listened to throughout his youth.
Born in Port-Au-Prince in the 1990’s, Aliote made his way to the United States at a young age and in doing so had to leave his family behind. As a result, he found himself turning to music and art as an escape that allowed him to feel alive. He has been drawing since the age of six, and is self-taught. Ever honing his innate, god-given talent, he continues to churn out work that will make viewers happy and his family proud.
