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Antoine Oleyant

About the Artist

Antoine Oleyant, c.1990 (Tina Girouard photo)
Antoine Oleyant, c.1990 (Tina Girouard photo)

Born in Plaisance de Sud, Haiti, 1955.  
Died in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, April 21, 1992.

Oleyant Antoine was born on September 16, 1955 in Plaisance du Sud, a small village in the mountains off the road between Aquin and Les Cayes in the south of Haiti. His father, Troinesca, aspired to be an Houngan, or Vodou priest. During his initiation rite, the loa left Troinesca and, according to Oleyant, entered his own mind. During his youth, Oleyant worked on the family farm. By 1971, he had outgrown the work and headed for Port-au-Prince, where he began calling himself Antoine Oleyant. He apprenticed to wood and metal sculptors and bought clothing and household goods which he resold for a profit on his trips back home.
Around 1981 A beautiful woman, perhaps Erzulie Freda, appeared in a dream and instructed Antoine in the art of drapeau, sequinned flags. In the ensuing years, he became the acknowledged master of the artform, moving it from craft to high art. On April 21, 1992, Antoine Oleyant died from a massive stroke. He was 37 years old.
(bio courtesy of the late Tina Girouard in the Sequin Artists of Haiti).

Region:
"Bossou" Sequinned Denim Jacket - Back
SKU: AOL-2101

Unusual jacket decorated by sequins and beads to depict the Vodou "lwa" Bossou, in the form of a bull's head.  Attributed to Antoine Oleyant,  the most original, celebrated and sought-after artist of the era.  Style of bull's head is characteristic of Oleyant's style as are the "pwen" star figures on the front and back of the jacket.  
Sequins and beads on Gap cotton denim jacket.
Size: small (women's).  
(26" h" x 61" w. with sleeves full extended)

Provenance:  purchased by current owner from Gloria Frank Gallery, NYC, c.1990.
Condition:  Excellent (two sequins missing on back).

Price on Request

Erzulie Freda - Vodou flag
SKU: AOL-2301

Exquisite "drapo Vodou" (Vodou flag) by the most original, celebrated and sought-after artist of the medium.  Port-au-Prince, Haiti, c.1990.
Sequins and beads on fabric.
(40.75” x 34.25”).

This flag is being sold by Judy Hoffman for the benefit of the Art Creation Foundation for Children, which she founded in Jacmel, Haiti.

Price on Request

Product Status: 
ON HOLD
Dambala Vodou Flag
SKU: AOL-1801

Exquisite "drapo Vodou" (Vodou flag) by the most original, celebrated and sought-after artist of the medium.  Port-au-Prince, Haiti, c.1990.
Sequins and beads on fabric, with burlap backing.
(40" x 33.5")

Provenance:  "Dambala" by Antoine Oleyant, was created in the late 1980s - 1992.  Very good condition, sequins sewn on burlap backing, velcro installation strips attached.  Current owner acquired from Tina Girouard in 2010.   Ships with provenance document and color photo of Antoine used in the book "Sequin Artists of Haiti", written by Tina Girouard.
Condition:  Very good condition with exception of a few missing sequins near the edge, as shown in photo diagram and accompanying details.  No apparent fading.

$3000

Product Status: 
Sold

Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou

Donald Cosentino, Editor
With Essays by Susan Preston Blier, Robert Farris Thompson, Sidney Mintz, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, Rachel Beauvoir-Dominique, Laennec Hurbon, Karen McCarthy, Mama Lola, Marilyn Houlberg, George Rene,Elizabeth McAlister, Patrick Polk, Tina Girouard, Randall Morris, Donald Cosentino
UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History Los Angeles, 1995

Product Status: 
Sold
$60

Sequin Artists of Haiti

Tina Girouard Haiti Arts, Inc.,
Girouard Art Projects Cecilia, LA, 1994
(OUT OF PRINT)

Artists Included: 
Product Status: 
Sold
$28

Kafou: Haiti, Art and Vodou

Edited by Alex Farquarson and Leah Gordon
With Contributions by Colin Dayan, Katherine Smith, Wendy Asquith, Michael Richardson and others.
Nottingham Contemporary, Nottongham, UK 2012
248 pages (hardcover)

Product Status: 
Sold
Price on request
SKU: AOL-01

(Port-au-Prince)
Sequins and beads on fabric
(43 x 34), c.1991

Price on request

Product Status: 
Sold