by Brian Geldin of Mañón Media Management

Samson Tonton is a Haitian-American artist and elementary school art teacher based in Connecticut. His exhibit, “The Soul Cries Out” opened last fall at La Grua Center in Stonington, Conn. (which was highlighted on Ebony) with a collection of his awe-inspiring works that push the conventional thinker to reimagine nature, love and the self. “The Mask” (as seen in the photo above) was one of his paintings in that exhibit, and is also currently being displayed at Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, Conn., through Feb. 29.

Tonton’s artwork provides a new lens through which to view the world, one that celebrates the multifaceted elements of Black culture. With his distinctive cubism style and powerful cultural message, he’s at the forefront of a new generation of Black artists breaking barriers and redefining the art world.

“‘The Mask’ figuratively shows how people keep hiding behind a mask, instead of showing their true selves,” says Tonton. “This style of art is from Niger, The Ivory Coast, Gambia, Benin and parts of West Africa. They were the ones that really came up with this style called Cubism. At first, they called it Cubism to make fun of it. It wasn’t welcoming at the time. That’s why their sculptures and the masks didn’t get the attention they deserved back then.” (Sidenote: According to an article written by Carolina Sanmiguel on The Collector on Oct. 3, 2020, “Picasso and Braque may have pioneered one of the most radical avant-garde movements in Europe during the early 20th century: Cubism. But African carvers were first to abstract reality . . . With their vital sculptures and masks, African artists invented the aesthetics that would later inspire the so-popular Cubist styles.”)

Tonton was born and raised in a small town in Haiti, where he began drawing and doodling ever since he was old enough to hold a pencil. Originally, he believed he wanted to be an animator, and he received a degree from The New England Institute of Art in Boston. However, he now prefers to be more involved in forms of creation that are not computer-assisted. After graduating, he decided he wanted to go back to what he loves most: drawing and painting. “I often stay up for hours at a time until the canvas in front of me reflects what I see in my mind’s eye. I use my artwork to push bigger conversations on beauty and show a representation of all people,” says Tonton.

For more information on Samson Tonton and to purchase his artwork from his shop, visit https://www.artsbytonton.com/.