Fanal – Fè Limyè

Fanal – Fè Limyè

10′-0″ x 5′-5″ x 8′-9″ including base
Wood, Paint, Acrylic, Solar Panel
2025

Fanal – Fè Limyè, created by artist Fitgi Saint-Louis, is inspired by the Haitian tradition of creating small paper lanterns called Fanal by families and artisans during the winter holiday seasons. Composed of wood, acrylic, and paint, this sculpture connects tied traditions from Southern American quilting to West African ironwork to embellished Caribbean homes, celebrating a range of local cultures present in New York City. Illuminating each night thanks to a solar panel on its roof, Fanal – Fè Limyè stands as a reminder of the enduring light we each hold and can build upon with our kaleidoscope of collective action.

Fanal – Fè Limyè was first presented in the Harlem Sculpture Garden Exhibition at St. Nicholas park in spring 2025 and is generously on loan to Weeksville Heritage Center from November 2025 through January 2026. The piece was built in partnership with the Student Build Program at the Brooklyn based Beam Center.

About Fitgi Saint-Louis

Fitgi Saint-Louis is a multidisciplinary artist, designer and educator whose practice bridges the worlds of cultural storytelling, design and community engagement. With a career rooted in creative innovation and social impact, she brings a distinct voice to contemporary art and design.

Her work considers the layered and intertwined nature of identity, remembrance and community
within African, American and Caribbean cultures. Her abstracted figures honor the multifaceted
ancestry of the African diaspora. With a background in design, Saint-Louis utilizes form and color to present figures in vibrant and contemplative imagery.

Based in Harlem she has collaborated with the The Dance Theatre of Harlem, NYC Department
of Transportation, NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health on murals, sculptures,
and installations that center community and cultural heritage. She has shown work in solo and group exhibitions, participated in local residencies, and consistently collaborates with community organizations.

Fitgi is a dedicated educator, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Visual Arts, where she advocates for equity within art and design industries while empowering emerging voices.

Fitgi is also a member of the Urban Design Forum, Design As Protest Collective, and National
Organization of Minority Architects collaborating with creative peers to design, build and care for
better cities. Through every facet of her work, she remains committed to design justice, cultural
preservation, and amplifying underrepresented voices in our world today.