Myrlande Constant’s Beaded Tapestries Shine as Cultural Ambassadors for Haiti in Ohio

Myrlande Constant, a trailblazing Haitian artist, is captivating audiences at the Akron Art Museum with her vibrant, intricately beaded tapestries, known as drapo. These works, rich with Haitian Vodou symbolism, history, and narratives, are on display through January 4, 2026, in the exhibition Myrlande Constant: DRAPO. Her art not only showcases her technical mastery but also serves as a powerful representation of Haitian culture amid challenging times.

A New Voice in Drapo Art

Constant’s drapo are a modern evolution of traditional Haitian Vodou flags, which historically featured static imagery. As art historian Katherine Smith notes, Constant was the first to infuse narrative into this art form, weaving stories of Vodou spirits, Haitian history, and contemporary life into her creations. Her work, described as “painting with beads,” uses sequins, beads, and tassels to craft dense, colorful tapestries filled with vegetation, people, animals, and spiritual symbols.

Her journey began under her mother’s guidance, learning beading techniques that she later honed while working on wedding dresses in a factory. However, Constant’s independent spirit led her to break from factory life and channel her skills into drapo, a traditionally male-dominated field. Her innovative approach has earned her international acclaim, with exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Venice Biennale and Art Basel in Miami Beach.

A Window into Haitian Culture

The Akron Art Museum’s exhibition features 10 of Constant’s large-scale drapo, including the recently acquired Sosyete Radha (2024), a 72-square-foot masterpiece. Senior curator Jeff Katzin describes the work as a vivid depiction of a central figure extending hands in a gesture of protection, surrounded by geometric Vodou symbols and scenes of pastoral Haitian life. He interprets it as Constant’s call for peace and stability in Haiti, especially poignant given the country’s ongoing political unrest and a recent U.S. travel ban that prevents her from attending the exhibition in person.

Constant’s art transcends its religious roots, resonating with universal themes of joy, celebration, and trauma, as noted by Haitian art scholar Jerry Philogene. Her process, documented in a short film from the 2023 Fowler Museum exhibition at UCLA, reveals a home studio in Haiti where she hand-draws designs and collaborates with apprentices, stitching beads into fabric amid a lively environment of chickens and birds.

A Cultural Ambassador

In a time when misinformation about Haitians in the U.S. has surged, Constant’s drapo serve as a vibrant counter-narrative, showcasing the richness of Haitian culture. Maggie Dougherty, director of Fort Gansevoort Gallery in New York, which represents Constant, highlights the artist’s allegorical approach, noting that her work speaks indirectly yet powerfully through its imagery. While Constant embraces her role as a cultural ambassador with pride, Smith questions whether it’s fair to place such a responsibility on Haitian artists.

The Akron exhibition, supported by Fort Gansevoort, underscores the labor, texture, and vivid detail of Constant’s work. Pieces like Rozoli (1995–1998) and Lasirène (2000–2010) demonstrate her ability to blend tradition with innovation, creating art that is both deeply personal and universally accessible.

Visit the Exhibition

The Myrlande Constant: DRAPO exhibition at the Akron Art Museum offers a rare opportunity to experience Constant’s groundbreaking work. Open through January 4, 2026, it invites viewers to engage with the stories, spirituality, and resilience of Haiti through the lens of an extraordinary artist. For more details, visit the Akron Art Museum’s website.

This blog is inspired by an article from The Ohio Newsroom, published by Ideastream Public Media.