Lewinale Havette: Exploring Identity and Power at Palo Gallery NYC

Liberian painter Lewinale Havette is redefining the boundaries of contemporary portraiture, using the canvas to explore the complex intersections of history, devotion and gender. Through her partnership with New York’s Palo Gallery, Havette has transitioned from emerging talent to a significant voice in the global art circuit, challenging how memory is stored and displayed within the human form.

“I Love It When You Beg”: The Female Body as Archive

Opening May 1, 2026, “I Love It When You Beg” marks Havette’s second solo exhibition at Palo Gallery. This body of work moves beyond traditional painting, incorporating works on paper and sculpture to create a multi-dimensional experience.

The exhibition treats the female body as a “living archive.” In Havette’s vision, the body isn’t just a subject but a site where power and history intersect. These visceral works investigate the ways memory is etched into the physical self, transforming the act of viewing into an exploration of devotion and resilience.

Themes of Migration and Spiritual Identity

Havette’s work frequently delves into the spiritual and sociological underpinnings of the African diaspora. A primary example is her solo exhibition, “Mami Wata: The Story of Migration, Religion, and Identity,” which ran from September to October 2024.

By centering the narrative on Mami Wata—a powerful water spirit found in various forms across Africa and the Americas—Havette explores how religion and myth travel across borders. This work highlights the fluidity of identity, mirroring the migratory patterns of the people who carry these beliefs with them.

Redefining the Muse

Beyond her solo projects, Havette has participated in curated dialogues regarding the history of representation. In the 2024 exhibition “Whose Muse?”, curated by Paul Henkel, Havette engaged with the concept of the portrait as a tool for power. While portraiture was historically reserved for royalty and political leaders to project authority, Havette uses the medium to reclaim agency for those traditionally marginalized in art history.

A Global Trajectory: Art Fairs and Representation

Havette’s rise is reflected in her presence at some of the world’s most prestigious art fairs. Her career trajectory shows a steady expansion from regional showcases to international milestones:

• 2025: Scheduled appearances at ZSONAMACO in Mexico City (featuring a solo booth), the Untitled Art Fair in Miami Beach, and the Aspen Art Fair.
• 2024: Participation in Art Cologne in Germany as part of the Collaborations sector, exhibiting alongside artists Natalie Frank and Nell Brookfield.
• 2022: Showcases at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and New York Art Week’s Art on Paper.
• 2018: Early exposure at Art Basel Miami, represented by TILA Studios and The Perez Art Museum.

Key Takeaways: The Art of Lewinale Havette

• Core Mediums: Specializes in painting, but expands into sculpture and works on paper to enhance narrative depth.
• Central Themes: Focuses on the female body, the legacy of migration, and the reclamation of identity through portraiture.
• Major Representation: Currently represented by Palo Gallery in New York.
• Global Reach: Consistent presence at top-tier fairs including Art Cologne, Art Basel, and ZSONAMACO.

As Lewinale Havette continues to exhibit in New York and abroad, her work serves as a critical bridge between Liberian heritage and the contemporary global art scene. By treating the body as a record of human experience, she ensures that the stories of migration and identity are not just remembered, but visibly archived.