Lewinale Havette (b. Monrovia, Liberia) is a painter focusing on the intricacies of feminine identity and explores the complexities of African spirituality, religion, sensuality, and gender power dynamics. Through her work, she unravels the oppressive structures of the past that once entangled her and transcend beyond the limitations of societal expectations, realizing the infinite freedom of liberation.
Stories of Lewinale’s maternal grandmother in her childhood Liberian village were her first encounters with life’s overflowing Magic. Havette then recognized Magic during her metamorphosis from a young girl to a woman, challenging a system of rigid orthodox ideas. In her studio, she explores and converts memories, fantastical visions, and ethereal dreams into tangible artwork that embodies the supernatural, often incorporating gestural drawings to capture the fluidity and immediacy of her creative process.
Lewinale Havette’s artwork has been featured in exhibitions in museums and galleries in the United States and Europe, including Christie’s London, 1-54 Contemporary African Fair in NY, Delphian Gallery in London, UK; Cierra Britton Gallery, New York; Black Cultural Archives, London, UK; Launch F18 in New York, NY; Alan Avery Art Company in Atlanta, GA; the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, Louisiana; and The ROOM Contemporary Art Space in Venice, Italy. In addition, she was represented by the Pérez Art Museum Miami at Art Basel Miami.