Mireille Delice, also known as Mirelle Delismé (b. 1965), learned sewing and beading from a cousin, who then got her a job in a wedding dress factory in Port au-Prince, Haiti. When the factory closed in 1990, she applied her talent to the creation of drapo, the iconic embellished flags used in Haitian Vodou. Many of the drapo on display in this exhibition incorporate traditional religious imagery, but Delice, like many of the so-called wedding dress factory artists of her generation, uses her sequin and beading skills to produce highly complex, colorful compositions, transforming ritual objects into independent works of art.

Delice has an atelier in Haiti, where she works with artist assistants to realize her original designs. “I start each piece inspired by Haiti’s rich traditions and spiritual heritage,” she says. “Planning begins by selecting designs that reflect the veves (religious symbols) and spirits central to Vodou, ensuring each creation tells a meaningful story with my own creative touch.”