Castera Bazile

1923 Marbial (Jacmel) – 1966 Port- au- Prince

Professional training – Style – Subjects

Self taught. He learned to master art techniques from other artists meeting and working regularly at the Centre d’Art, in Port- au- Prince.

Although, at first with no training whatsoever, Castera Bazile had a good sense of space, evidence in his first landscapes that showed, otherwise, his limited knowledge of basic artistic techniques. He very quickly learned to master composition and proportions as well as elements such as lines, and colors.

Castera Bazile is known as the most Catholic popular painter of the 1945 generation. He dealt often with religious subjects inspired by the Bible. That leads him to be one of the main muralists in the decoration project of the Ste Trinity Cathedral in Port au Prince. His also privileged market scenes were fruits, clothes and objects of the environment allowed him to create colorful compositions.

Biography

Raised by his grandmother, he received a very strong Catholic education in his late teen. Looking to make a living, he moved to Port au Prince were he was hired, as a house boy

by Dewitt Peters, who was the founder the Centre d’Art in Port au Prince. Castera Bazile was then moved to this artistic environment were he felt the need to be an integral part of the group. Encouraged by Peters, he became one of the most famous popular artists of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.

Museums and other public collections:

Musée d’art Haïtien, Port au Prince

Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien, Port-au-Prince

Foyer Inter Caribéen d’art Contemporain, Port-au-Prince

Musée Nader, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Cathédrale Ste Trinité, Port au Prince

Flag Tanning Collection, Milwaukee USA

Awards and Prices

1957 First price Holiday Magazine Competition

1955 First price Alcoa Steam Ship Co Inter-Caribbean competition.

1950 Silver medal bicentennial of the city of Port au Prince.