Mario Benjamin (b. 1964) was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although self-taught, he was deeply aware of museum traditions and international contemporary art movements. He began his career focusing on drawing and photorealism before turning toward abstraction and mixed media. Benjamin incorporates found materials such as wood and fabric into cut-and-reconstructed canvases, creating dark, restrained compositions that contrast with traditional Haitian painting. His work explores identity, social constraint, and psychological tension through layered surfaces and minimal line. A frequent participant in major international biennales, Benjamin is regarded as one of Haiti’s leading contemporary artists.