Today we’d like to introduce you to Xayvier Haughton.

Hi Xayvier, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born 1986 in Spanish Town, Catherine, Jamaica in a small community called Rivoli. It is located close to the town center. An alias for the Spanish Town is called the “Old Capital” being Jamaica’s first capital during the colonial occupation of Spain, 1534 -1872. My parents worked minimum wage salaries, and I was the second child out of seven; The community is situated on the banks of the Rio Cobre´ which is one of the longest river in Jamaica, at age five I saw my friends Ray and Chris drawing a man on bike that was the big think that summer, so all the kids from this quite small community would gather and to show of their newly completed drawing. I remember my first drawing I was so proud. my dad who was a musician saw my potential and decided to introduce me to his friend who was a revered Jamaican artist Uhuru Reese, he took me under his wings and fro a few years I had one on one drawing sessions. I continued drawing after my time with Uhuru through high school. In 2009 I enrolled at the Edna Manley school of Visual Arts where for four years I completely immersed myself in the discipline of painting. I wanted to learn everything there was to learn so I did as much as possible I got lost in the world of pigments. this went on for a couple of years. Fast forward to 2020 covid years and I enrolled at the School of Visual Arts, NY (SVA). This opportunity open up many door for me and since then I have been making art and teaching in New York.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, I don’t think that’s ever the case especially within the arts. my biggest struggles came in the form of visibility I was making art consistently for many years prior but being from the Caribbean makes it harder to break into the global art scene.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My studio practice explores African ceremonial aesthetics and symbolisms as iconoclasm, disrupting the white cube space through painting, installation, and sculpture.
Paintings explore issues around fatherhood and masculinity and the divine black body. with the use of black pigments, to create compositions that place that create black icons surrealistic environments, that create conversation between sculptures, assemblage installation.
I use a combination of painted figures and sculptural gestures creates impromptu altars, “Vessels of Resistance and Healing. ” Iconographic imageries are synchronized with Obeah votives and repurposed objects such as wooden drawers, chairs, and shelves. Creating architectonic forms consisting of subtle shifts of tones and textures.
I gather and assemble to create renewed forms. Tying, breading, draping fabrics, collaging images, beading bottles, drawing, and painting become ritualized. The sculptures are portals to my subconscious mind to infuse memory and meaning into space and matter.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite memory is the Haughton a music band that my dad was trying to create with me my sister and my younger brother. we would be so tired after a long school day or whatever and my father would come home and gather us. everyone was better at staying on key than I was. never the less we sounded amazing at least that’s what we where told.

Contact Info:

• Website: xayvierhhaugton.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xayvier-haughton-01985bb7/

Image Credits
Artist portrait credit Demantio Saint Clair