PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Haitian Artist Myrlande Constant’s Work on View at the Figge

Davenport, Iowa (January 23, 2025) — The Figge Art Museum is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition Myrlande Constant: DRAPO, opening Saturday, February 1. The exhibition features the extraordinary work of celebrated Haitian artist Myrlande Constant.

Known for her innovative approach to the traditional art form of drapo (Vodou flags), Constant has intrigued audiences worldwide with her large-scale, bead and sequin-covered works. For over 35 years, Constant has redefined this Haitian tradition, transforming ceremonial Vodou flags into a contemporary art form.

The exhibition will showcase 17 of her intricately crafted bead paintings, some spanning more than seven feet, highlighting her ability to turn culturally rich stories into monumental works of art. Visitors will be immersed in a world of color and texture, and surrounded by depictions of the lwa—spirit entities central to Vodou beliefs.

Constant lives and works in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where as a child she learned beading techniques from her mother. Later she labored alongside her mother in a wedding dress factory, an experience that helped shape her as an artist. As her career flourished, Constant returned to her roots by employing former factory workers in her workshop, to help bring her visions to life.

“The Figge has a long tradition of collecting, exhibiting, and celebrating Haitian art, and the exhibition of Myrlande Constant’s work continues that rich legacy. Her pieces are technically inspiring, showcasing intricate and densely layered beadwork, but it is her storytelling that is most compelling. Constant creates a vibrant portrait of her world by seamlessly weaving narratives that feature a diverse cast of characters rooted in Haitian history, Vodou, and the rhythms of modern life,” says Joshua Johnson Figge Co-Senior Curator.   

Constant’s art is deeply rooted in her heritage. Her father, a respected oungan (Vodou priest), introduced her to the stories and symbolism of the lwa, which serve as recurring characters in her work. Constant brings these spiritual narratives into the present by injecting scenes and figures from contemporary life in Haiti, creating works that are relatable and timely.

Myrlande Constant: DRAPO will be on view in the Figge’s fourth-floor gallery through May 4, 2025. The exhibition is made possible through generous loans from Fort Gansevoort, New York City, and the Waterloo Center for the Arts, Waterloo, Iowa.

Companion Programs:
Exhibition Celebration – Myrlande Constant: DRAPO
Thursday, March 20 | 5 p.m. Bar Opens | 6:30 p.m. Art Talk| FREE Event
Artist and scholar Dr. Petrouchka Moïse, Assistant Professor and Cultural & Community-based Digital Curator at Grinnell College Libraries, presents a history of Haitian Drapo and its connection to Myrlande Constant’s art practice.

Second Saturday Saturday, April 12 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | FREE Admission & Activities
The April Second Saturday will include a screening of Myrlande Constant: Staging the Invisible (2023), a short video directed by Natacha Giafferi-Dombre. Visit our website for a full schedule of activities. Second Saturdays are made possible by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All Programs with additional funding support provided by Pepsi Cola Bottling of Davenport.

About the Figge Art Museum: 
The Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. Located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street, the Figge is the premier art exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines. Its landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures, and special events that attract visitors of all ages. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are not required but can be made at www.figgeartmuseum.org or by calling 563.345.6632. Admission to the museum is $14 for adults, $10 for seniors and students with ID and $8 for children ages 4-12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and to all on Thursday evenings. You can become a member for as little as $60 by visiting the Figge website. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.   

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