Jacques-Richard Chéry was born in Cap-Haitian on February
2, 1928. He always painted as a young man, but to support himself he worked
first as a barber, then opened a gas station in the Artibonite Valley and
exhibited his art at his place of work. Following the warm reception given to
his works, and on the advice of his friend Philome Obin, he moved to
Port-au-Prince in 1951. In 1965, he entered the Galerie Issa, where he painted
for several years.
Chéry's earlier works are representative of the Northern
School, focusing on the minutely detailed representation of historical scenes
or events of every-day life. He later found more commercial success in painting
more whimsical canvases. His paintings of children and child-like merchants
carrying larger than life bowls of fruit on their heads, for instance, are very
popular, but not great works of art.
Chéry has exhibited in London (1969), Spoletto (1970),
Modena (1981), New York, Milwaukee, Berlin (1979), Paris (1980, 1988, and
1990).
