Alexis Peterson: Support Haitian Artist and Father of 4

Hello! My name is Ginette and I'm an artist based in Toronto beginning a new fund to help Alexis Peterson support himself and his family.

Alexis is an artist and father in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He has four young daughters.

Born in 1988, Alexis having originally begun his exploration in the field of visual arts in 2011, he has taken it up in earnest once he joined the New Vision Art School group in 2016 which is under the tutelage of Lesly Pierre Paul.

Alexis' work explores his culture, that of voodoo. He is an artist in the art brut tradition and his work explores many mysteries.

The artist states: 'I feel very proud to be an artist and I started to work in art since February of 2011. It's not easy to start but looking at artist's such as Guyodo (Haitian artist who works frenetically in ballpoint pen) gave me the impulse to become like them'

In 2016 he had the chance to showcase his art with New Vision Art School - 'It was a great moment in my artistic life!'

Other exhibitions soon followed - he had work shown in 2017 at the Claire Corcia Gallery in Paris, France and in 2018 he participated in an exhibition at Gallery Chopper Chunky, which was an online gallery.

'Art is my passion, my life and I feel very comfortable being an artist'

Over this past year the situation has become incredibly difficult for Haitians. Gang violence has brought immense pressures and dangers to all those living in the capital. Alexis' immediate community has been destroyed and gangs attacked the business where he previously worked to support his family.

This fund is primarily to help him care for his four daughters. One of the important things on his mind is their collective future. Although education in Haiti is 'free', 92% of schools are private! Investing in a child's education is paramount to elevating people into a better future.

This fund will foremost be used to enroll his eldest daughters in school.

Any amount will help so much.

Please donate if you can or help by sharing his story.

You may also try to connect with Alexis on instagram at @peterson7040 he has many wonderful paintings for sale!

Thank you in advance

-Ginette on behalf of Alexis & Family