Join us for an exhibit that explores the realities of socioeconomic disparity, political conflict, and social marginalization through a series of acrylic paintings reflecting the human struggle. The artist draws from his experiences growing up in Haiti to bring awareness to the way that hardship can often prevent talented individuals from being able to explore their potential.
Marvel at the beauty within The Less Privileged Life: Paintings by Yves Estime. Born in Verrettes, Haiti, in 1968, from an early age, Estime displayed a talent for art despite growing up in a community where artistic expression was misunderstood and undervalued. His parents, like many in the community, encouraged him to pursue a more traditional career path in architecture or engineering. Despite this, Estime’s passion for art remained strong, and after years of struggling with societal expectations, he embraced his calling by attending art school at the Ecole Nationale des Arts in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1999.
Estime's journey is shaped by his personal experience of societal and political challenges in Haiti. He has used his art as a tool to raise awareness about the hardships faced by the less privileged. His work reflects the struggles of talented individuals whose dreams are often stifled by economic disparity, political conflict, and social marginalization.
Estime's influences include Haitian painters Franck Louissaint, Dieudonne Cedor, and Jean Menard Derenoncourt, as well as Senegalese artist Kalidou Kasse. After relocating to the United States in 2015 due to the political instability in Haiti, Estime continued to develop his artistic practice while working at the University of Miami Hospital. After displaying a few of his pieces throughout the halls of the hospital, his work earned him great recognition, inspiring him to further expand his career in Miami.