Grandfather (2006) – Frito Bastien – Original Oil on Canvas – 18x24 in
 
About the Artwork "Grandfather" is a masterpiece of quiet dignity and ancestral power. This emotive portrait features an elder with piercing, thoughtful eyes—his face a map of wisdom, sorrow, and resilience. Seated within a vibrant interior, the subject is surrounded by hand-painted furniture and a lush view through the window, anchoring him in a life deeply rooted in home. Bastien uses his signature naïve style to honor the role of elders as the vital carriers of tradition and spirit within Haitian culture. This painting is a profound homage to legacy and the quiet power of those who watch over generations.
 
About the Artist Frito Bastien (b. 1954) is a celebrated Haitian master whose work is a cornerstone of the Vivant Art Collection. 1 A Pew Fellowship recipient and a former mentee of Célestin Faustin, Bastien’s art is a visual archive of Haitian memory and resistance. 2 His transition from master carpenter to one of Philadelphia’s most vital muralists and fine artists informs the structural precision and emotional depth found in his canvases.