Luce Turnier (Haitian, 1924-1995)

Luce Turnier (February 24, 1924–1995) was a pioneering Haitian modernist born in Jacmel, Haiti, who later died in Paris, France. She was among the few women artists associated with the early years of Haiti’s Centre d’Art and, remarkably, was already speaking about modernism in 1945 at the age of twenty-one. Her early presence within the Centre placed her at the heart of the movement that brought Haitian art to international attention, while her artistic direction challenged the stereotypes that quickly formed around what Haitian painting “should” look like. As Haitian painters gained global visibility, market expectations often favored work perceived as naïve or primitive, and the international narrative around Haitian art remained dominated by male artists. Turnier, both a woman and a painter aligned with modernist ideas, did not receive the same recognition as many of her contemporaries. In the 1950s, she left Haiti on scholarships to study in New York and later in Paris, where she faced the defining artistic challenge of creating outside the pressures of market taste and fixed cultural expectations. During this period, she began to experiment with abstraction and collage, expanding her visual language while remaining grounded in Haitian identity. Turnier’s work absorbed elements of European modernism, yet it consistently retained the spirit of Haiti—its people, texture, and luminous colors. Her portraits are admired for their psychological presence, and her studies of nature reflect an expressive, poetic sensitivity. As Haitian art critic Gérald Alexis wrote in Peintres Haïtiens, “Turnier’s portraits reflect the Haitian’s soul while her studies are a hymn to tropical nature.” Today, her paintings are held in important collections and are exhibited internationally in reputable galleries and museums, affirming her lasting importance as one of Haiti’s most significant women modernists. Scroll down to make your selection(s)!