“Fishmarket” by Paul-Henri Bourguignon will be one of his featured works at the “Remembering Haiti” exhibit opening Thursday at the Ohio State Faculty Club. Credit: Courtesy of Jane Hoffelt
Thursday through June 25, Ohio State’s Faculty Club will host “Remembering Haiti,” an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Paul-Henri Bourguignon that capture the spirit of Haiti through decades of work.?
Bourguignon was a prolific artist known for his vivid depictions of culture through his travels. He had ties to Ohio State through his wife, Erika Bourguignon, who was a founding member of the university’s anthropology department and Faculty Club member, Erika Bourguignon Fund trustee Jane Hoffelt said.?
Over the years, Hoffelt said he developed a distinctive style that combined keen observation with emotional depth, capturing the spirit of the people and communities he portrayed.?
The exhibition is organized by art coordinator Robie Benve with support from Hoffelt. Benve said the Faculty Club gallery traditionally highlights artists connected to Ohio State, making Bourguignon a natural fit because of his wife’s involvement with the university.?
“We feature artists with ties to OSU,” Benve said. “It has always been on our radar, his work.”
His work has remained visible within the community, which Hoffelt said is in part due to her and the club’s continued involvement and support.
As planning for the exhibition began, Hoffelt said she and Benve decided to center the show on Bourguignon’s Haiti-inspired work, which spans multiple decades and artistic styles. She said the collection includes pastels, gouache, acrylic paintings and drawings, all rooted in his experiences and impressions of the country.
“We have plenty of his work, because he was so prolific,” Benve said. “We decided to focus on Haiti for this show.”
Hoffelt, who selected the pieces included in the exhibition, said her process was guided more by personal connection than strict criteria, choosing works that she felt best represented Bourguignon’s range and emotional depth.
“I just chose everything I loved,” Hoffelt said. “It’s very easy, because I love so much of it.”
Benve said visitors can expect scenes of everyday life, including depictions of people, homes and communities, brought to life through expressive color and composition. The works reflect both observation and emotion, offering a glimpse into a version of Haiti that may feel unfamiliar to modern audiences.?
One of the featured pieces is titled “闯辞测,” a rare depiction of happiness within Bourguignon’s work.?
“Some people just come in and see the art, and they’re blown away,” Benve said. “It’s always wonderful to present something new.”
Benve said the exhibition also aims to broaden perspectives by presenting a different view of Haiti, one shaped by the artist’s experiences in the mid-20th century.
“It tells the story of a Haiti that might not be how we think of Haiti today,” Benve said.
For Hoffelt, she said the goal of the exhibition is for viewers to form a personal connection with the artwork and the people it represents, emphasizing the respect and care Bourguignon brought to his subjects.
“What I hope is that they’ve fallen in love with his work,” Hoffelt said.
Benve added the exhibition offers more than just a visual experience, encouraging visitors to engage with another culture through art.
“Looking at a show like this is almost like traveling … experiencing another place, another culture,” Benve said.
The exhibition is free to attend and is located at The Faculty Club at 181 S. Oval Dr., with an opening reception April 17 from 6-8 p.m., as well as an artist documentary and discussion with Hoffelt May 22 from 3:30-4 p.m.
