Artist Patrick Eugène on memory, meditation, and the bridge between abstraction and figuration.
Dan Golden, founder and creative director of Curator, meets with Patrick Eugène to discuss the artist’s intuitive, memory-driven practice and his ongoing dialogue between abstraction and figuration. Eugène explains his refusal of references, allowing imperfect figures to emerge organically, and speaks about the influence of jazz, conversation, and his Haitian American background on the mood and meaning of his work, alongside inspirations such as Roy DeCarava and Gordon Parks.
The conversation also touches on Eugène’s shift from finance to painting, his interest in scale and material experimentation, and his desire to extend storytelling beyond the canvas through collaborations like Dior. He concludes by reflecting on the grounding role of family, his wish for uninterrupted time to create and travel, and his long-term goal of supporting artistic communities, particularly in Haiti.
“I’m definitely an old soul. I love periods where things felt more intentional—music, design, family, community. Life today moves too fast to appreciate authentic craftsmanship.”
