Artistic activity in Haiti dates back to the pre-Columbian era. Archaeologists have found pots, sculptures and other pieces of art that were crafted in Haiti. Some of the most well-known archaeological work in Haiti is attributed to a native Indian culture called the Taino.
According to American University, Haitian culture has also been influenced by French colonization. The French have influenced Haitian language, architecture, interior decorating and various art forms. In the 1820s, many French artists trained and promoted Haitian artists.
Haiti is also the birthplace of an art form called "intuitive art." Intuitive art is characterized by vivid, raw colors, and shapes and sizes that do not abide by normal proportions. Intuitive artists use spontaneity and freedom when they paint. In the 1940s an American schoolteacher named Dewitt Peters arrived in Haiti. Peters founded the Centre d'Art in Port-au-Prince, where Haitian artists eventually gave birth to the art form "intuitive art".
The first American artist of African descent to become an international art star was from Haiti. Jean-Michel Basquiat gained popularity as a graffiti artist in New York City. He eventually became a highly successful neo-expressionist artist. Today, Basquiat's work continues to sell for millions of dollars.
Some prominent Haitian artists still celebrated today include Numa Desroches, Colbert Lochard, Archibald Lochard, and Thimoleon Dejoie. Many Haitian artists were self-taught. Much of the work produced by Haitian artists captures the vividness and openness of Haitian life.