Luckner Lazard
(1928 - 1988)
Lazard studied painting and sculpture at the Centre d'Art from 1945 to 1950 under the direction of Dewitt Peters, A. Mangones, Lucian Price and Jason Seley. He helped in the founding of the Foyer de Arts Plastiques. In 1951 he received a scholarship to study in Paris where he stayed for 2 years, and then relocated to Mexico to study.
Lazard came back to Haiti and settled in Carrefour where he hosted a gathering of artists every Friday and Saturday. It was at one of these gatherings in 1956 that the group, consisting of such notable artists as Dieudonné Cédor, Roland Dorcely, Jean Claude Garoute, (Tiga), Jacques Gabriel and Néhémy Jean conceived the idea of opening their own gallery (Brochette Gallery). These sophisticated artists were looking for a way to distance themselves from the naif painters and the Foyer de Arts Plastiques. Once established, Lazard managed the gallery for several years.
In 1966 Lazard moved to New York, where he lived and painted for many years.
Lazard's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums all over the world. He won numerous awards and prizes including competitions organized by Pan American Airways, The National Tourist Office, and the Alcoa Steamship Company.
He was considered one of Haiti's best artists and his reputation is international in scope. He died in May, 1998, after suffering a debilitating stroke.
