Guy Stanley Philoche Reveals the Story Behind ‘Give Us Our Flowers’ | Art on Paper Interview

Art on Paper in New York City is a captivating mix of colors and stories, providing the perfect setting for painter Guy Stanley Philoche to share his journey. Born in the lively Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and later settling in Connecticut, Guy’s life is full of challenges and discoveries.

At the heart of his current collection, “Give Us Our Flowers,” is a poignant narrative about honoring our dear ones while they are still with us. This series, dedicated to a departed friend, David, is Guy’s testament to the unspoken words, the unsung praises, and the flowers many wish they had handed out while their loved ones were alive. “It started with a sketch of David, and then the series just evolved,” shares Philoche.

His pieces are storytelling epics. One, titled the “The Harlem Hipster,” is a snapshot of urban elegance and casual flamboyance. Guy’s approach is a rich amalgamation – sometimes, it’s his photography and sometimes references from other shutterbugs. Whatever the source, it’s the essence of the subject that captivates him.

Guy’s voice in his work is evident, poignant, and vibrant, with two decades under his belt. The journey to find it, however, has been arduous. His advice to budding artists? “Never take your eye off the prize.”

For those eager to delve deeper into Guy Stanley Philoche’s vibrant universe, he welcomes all to his Instagram with a parting note, “Keep a lookout for everything and peace and love.”

More on Guy Stanley Philoche

Haitian-born modern artist Guy Stanley Philoche immigrated to Connecticut when he was three years old. As the middle child of three boys and coming from a family of sports enthusiasts whose passion he didn’t share, Philoche turned to art as his calling. While remaining close to his Haitian Roots, Philoche was the only son to buck his culture’s tradition of the entire family living together and struck out on his own – first attending Paier College of Art and then Yale. He now lives in New York City. For the past 15 years, Guy Stanley Philoche has been attracting international attention with his work and his impressive roster of solo shows. As an artist, Guy’s palette is strong and sophisticated. His layering technique has created a body of paintings so richly textured that one can hardly hold back from reaching out and touching the canvas. In fact, it is the artist’s intent and wish that the viewer will follow their desire to reach out and feel the different textures of his canvases. His work is for the viewer’s pleasure, to be fully enjoyed from a tactile standpoint, and he has varnished the canvases for exactly that reason. 

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