Edouard King Fong Wah 1938-2003

Born in Port-au-Prince in 1938 of a Haitian mother and a Chinese father, Wah began drawing as a child.

When only seven, while attending one of the best parochial schools of the capital, he recieved his first instructions in perspective and anatomy. To further enhance his natural abilities, his father had him tutored by one of Haiti's best art teachers at the time, Master Bance.

A few years later, Wah began using oil on canvas and masonite. Early in his career, he deviated from his orginal "naive" style to take on the "classic" approach. After mastering these styles, however, he ultimately settled for the "modern" style which he fully identifies with, even though having been revealed from within in the latter part of his artistic life.

In 1952, Wah and his younger brother Bernard studied at Foyer des ARts Plastiques in Port-au-Prince, learning new techniques with such masters as Petion Savin, Dieudonne Cedor, Wilson Jolicoeur, Luckner Lazard and many others. Wah's other interests include modelling and acting.

In 1963, Wah founded a cultural center "Calfou," also in Port-au-Prince. The same year, he and his brother were commissioned by the Haitian government to restore the murals in the Bicentennial City, certain cultural centers and public buildings in Port-au-Prince.

In 1971 he moved with his family in Philadelphia where he lived for thirteen years. Edouard King Fong Wah died on September 27th 2003 in his beloved country of Haiti.