We were saddened to hear about the recent passing of Martinican visual artist Victor Anicet on October 26, 2026. Here we share a translated obituary piece by Peggy Pinel-Fereol, “Victor Anicet, le plasticien martiniquais qui a fait rayonner l’art caribéen, est décédé” [Victor Anicet, the Martinican visual artist who brought prominence to Caribbean art, has passed away], published in France Info La 1ère-Martinique.
He was one of Martinique’s greatest visual artists. Painter and ceramicist Victor Anicet, a native of Le Marigot, has died.
Stained glass, sculpture, objects, painting—Victor Anicet’s work permeated every kind of space. In early 2025, some of his pieces were on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
The fifth of nine children, raised by a mother who was a farmer and a father who was a fisherman—both of whom passed away early in his life (he was seven at the time)—his modest daily existence in Le Marigot shaped the man he became.
His encounter with Father Robert Pinchon proved to be a turning point; through him, he discovered amateur archaeology and excavation.
“You must believe in your dreams.”
After studying applied arts in Fort-de-France, he left Martinique at the age of 17 to pursue ten years of training in ceramics at the École des Métiers d’Art, graduating at the top of his class in 1961. Throughout this period, he completed numerous internships with leading specialists in mainland France and Germany, honing his craft and expertise.
Upon returning to Martinique in 1967, his passion for Amerindian imagery was already evident. Martinique served as a profound source of inspiration for the artist.
He was also the founder of the artist collective “Fwomajé,” whose inaugural exhibition—held during the 1984 Fort-de-France Festival—sought to explore the concept of a Caribbean aesthetic. He taught visual arts in various municipalities across Guadeloupe and Martinique. In 2017, the Lycée Saint James in Saint-Pierre was renamed the Lycée Polyvalent Victor Anicet.
One of his most recent exhibitions, held in September 2024 at the Fondation Clément in Le François—titled “Opacité & transparence“—served as a retrospective covering the years 1967 to 2024.
[In Martinique] his works can be found in public spaces across various towns, including Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Le Diamant, Sainte-Luce, Le Lorrain, Le Gros-Morne, Le Morne-Rouge, Schœlcher, Basse-Pointe, and Saint-Pierre.
Victor Anicet was 88 years old (born April 18, 1938).
Article translated by Ivette Romero. For the original (in French) see https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/martinique/le-plasticien-martiniquais-victor-anicet-est-decede-1751796.html
Also see https://richeskarayib.com/victor-anicet-tribute-legacy/, https://www.fondation-clement.org/expositions/victor-anicet-signes-et-strates/, and https://antilla-martinique.com/victor-anicet-hommage-fondation-clement/
[Photo above by JF Gouaitfrom Antilla and @fondationclement.]