Sandra Dessalines

Sandra Dessalines
Born
Wilberte Dessalines

Port-au-Prince, Haiti
EducationQuisqueya University, INSA Toulouse
AwardsVermeil Medal
StyleSculpture, Painting
MovementNaive art [1]
MaterialsPaper, Mixed media, Papier-mâché, Plywood, Oil paint [2]

Sandra Dessalines is a self-taught Haitian visual artist and sculptor.[3] Her artwork is inspired and informed by Haitian culture, history, and artistic tradition.[3]

Biography

Born Wilberte Dessalines in Carrefour, Haiti, Dessalines grew up with multiple brothers and sisters.[4] She was interested in art at a young age but her parents made her choose a different career path as they did not think being a Black female artist in an 'underdeveloped country' was possible.[5]

She is a descendant of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.[3]

Dessalines studied agricultural engineering at Quisqueya University. In 2000, she moved to Toulouse, France to continue her studies at the Institut national des sciences appliquées de Toulouse.[3][6]

Dessalines currently lives in Basque Country.[7][8]

Dessalines began making art professionally after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, losing her cousin and neighbors in the natural disaster.[6] She realized that she was hiding herself and that people can loose everything in an instant.[5] "I still have a rather special relationship with art. It's between denial and affirmation. It clicked in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti," Dessalines later told France Info.[9]

She cites Rémi Trotereau, Marc Petit, and Ousmane Saw as sources of artistic inspiration.[3]

For me, it is through art that I express myself. All artistic forms have allowed a form of expression, whether music, visual arts, cinema, writers...We must become aware of our situation without underestimating ourselves in order to continue moving forward.

— Sandra Dessalines [10]

Dessalines uses mixed-materials and papier-mâché to make her art.[11] Her mixed materials have included wood, cardboard, beads, fabrics, organic materials, and plastics.[6][4] Her art explores themes of postcolonialism, Vodou, "Haiti’s history, Black identity, collective memory, and the condition of women."[3][12] Her art often centers on overlooked women in Haitian history and/or the impact of slavery and colonization.[7][9][12]

In a 2019 interview, Dessalines described herself as "an artist who works on themes that shape the culture of my island, Haiti. The shapes, lights, contrasts, shadows of my characters come to life in an atypical setting: my kitchen which serves as my workshop."[10]

In October 2024, she was awarded the public prize from the Lmh Concept Events Art and Design.[3] On October 11, 2025, Dessalines was awarded the Vermeil Medal by La Société académique Arts-Sciences-Lettres.[13][14]

Exhibitions

References

  1. ↑ Dessalines, Sandra. "L'art naïf". Sandra Art Naïf (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  2. ↑ Dessalines, Sandra. "Tableaux sur le thème du marché". Sandra Art Naïf (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Francois, Moise. "Sandra Dessalines, creating to testify her freedom". Haïti Wonderland. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  4. 1 2 "Expositions". Saint Jean Pied de Port (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  5. 1 2 Dessalines, Sandra (Jan 22, 2024). SANDRA DESSALINES, ARTISTE PLASTICIENNE - SON PARCOURS, HAÏTI ET SON TRAVAIL (Video). MédiART by Samuel GELAS – via YouTube.
  6. 1 2 3 Arocena, Gil (2023-10-18). "Pays basque : Sandra Dessalines, sculptrice des beautés d'Haïti". SudOuest.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  7. 1 2 L'Helgoualch, Frederic (2021-09-16). "'Les marrons de la liberté', de Sandra Dessalines. Aux briseurs de chaînes oubliés". Mediapart (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  8. ↑ "Sandra DESSALINES - Art naïf Haïtien". Galerie Des Corsaires (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  9. 1 2 3 Martinique the First. "L'artiste plasticienne Sandra Dessalines présente ses "Voyages identitaires" à Tropiques Atrium". FranceInfo (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  10. 1 2 Rasatie, Anne (2019-02-18). "Sandra Dessalines, une artiste qui rend hommage à l'africanité" (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  11. ↑ Ferolus, Guy (2024-09-26). "Sandra Dessalines, une sculptrice au regard neuf et surprenant". Haiti Inter (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  12. 1 2 Beralus, Melissa (March 21, 2025). "Who is Sandra Dessalines, an artist whose work lies at the intersection of art and colonial memory?". Mus'elles.
  13. ↑ Crusson, Patrice (2025-10-29). "L'uhartiar Sandra Dessalines récompensée par l'Académie des arts, sciences et lettres". SudOuest.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  14. ↑ Thermidor, Feguerson Fegg (7 November 2025). "Sandra Dessalines honorée de la médaille Vermeil de l'Académie des Arts-Sciences-Lettres". Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  15. ↑ "By Lara Sedbon". By Lara Sedbon. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  16. ↑ "Archives des Espace culture". Lyon-Haïti Partenariats (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  17. ↑ "Pessac (33) : Exposition d'Art Naïf de Sandra Dessalines". Collectif Haïti France. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  18. ↑ "Les enfants voyagent en terre d'Haïti". SudOuest.fr (in French). 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  19. ↑ Delrieu, Hervé (May 22, 2014). "FGL Edito du 22/05/14 Elle est l'image et la voix d'Haïti à travers ses oeuvres. La Gare de L'Art rend hommage à Sandra Dessalines". Frequence Grands Lacs. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
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