The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia Receives Landmark Gift of Haitian Art from the Collection of John Fox Sullivan and Beverly Knight Sullivan
Major Acquisition Significantly Enriches Campus and Community Offerings
Charlottesville, VA…. The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia (The Fralin/the Museum) (UVA) today announced a transformative gift of modern Haitian art from the Collection of John Fox Sullivan and Beverly Knight Sullivan—considered one of the foremost collections in the United States. Among the approximately 100 promised works are 70 paintings by internationally celebrated artists as well as metalwork, assemblages, and drapo Vodou (also known as Haitian flags).
Among the artists represented are Toussaint Auguste, Castera Bazile, Rigaud Benoît, Wilson Bigaud, Myrlande Constant, Hector Hyppolite, Jasmin Joseph, Philomé Obin, Sénèque Obin, and Louisiane Saint Fleurant. The gift is accompanied by the establishment of the new Sullivan Collection Endowment for Access and Education for its ongoing care, study, and display.
In fall 2025, a selection of more than 20 works will be on view at The Fralin in a special exhibition curated by Karen E. Milbourne, The Fralin’s J. Sanford Miller Family Director, in collaboration with Laurent Dubois, John L. Nau III Bicentennial Professor in the History and Principles of Democracy and Professor of History at UVA, and Fralin Assistant Curator Ariel Ankrah. The exhibition title is Haiti’s Time, and is divided into three sections: Historical Time, Personal Time, and Sacred Time. The exhibition will be on view August 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026, with a Members/VIP opening on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Milbourne said, “We are profoundly grateful to John Fox Sullivan and his late wife Beverly for this extraordinary gift so thoughtfully assembled over four decades. It will greatly enrich our Caribbean and Africana studies programs and, importantly, serve as a vibrant resource in our community while expanding appreciation for Haitian culture. We gratefully acknowledge the many UVA faculty and staff who participated in the acquisition process, especially Laurent Dubois; Shelby Sinclair, Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies; Tatiana Flores, Professor of Art History; and Krystal Appiah, Head of Collection Development at Special Collections.”
The Sullivans first traveled to Haiti in 1977. Starting in the 1980s, they began traveling more frequently and collecting. During those years, John and Beverly Sullivan returned more than 25 times with the nonprofit organization Eye Care, Inc. to purchase art to sell in the United States. The goal was to benefit the artists while the proceeds supported the nonprofit healthcare organization. The effort enabled Eye Care, Inc. to build and manage seven ophthalmology clinics in Haiti, train doctors, and provide the first laser treatment facility in the Caribbean.
Milbourne noted, “John recounts how Beverly said, ‘The paintings beckoned Come to us, and we went.’ This fall, with the presentation of our special exhibition featuring a selection of the artworks, we invite the public to experience a vivid sampling of Haitian culture with which the Sullivans were so enamored. These paintings speak to the complex history, daily experiences, and faith that has shaped life in Haiti.”
Beverly Knight Sullivan passed away in June 2024. In addition to her appreciation of Haitian artists and her charitable work, she served as a docent for 20 years at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. For nearly 40 years John Fox Sullivan was a Washington DC based magazine executive serving as President and Publisher of National Journal, The Atlantic, and several other “inside the beltway” political publications. After moving to Washington, Virginia, he served as Mayor from 2010-2018. The Sullivans are long-time members of the Haitian Arts Society (HAS) formed in 2003 as an international membership organization designed to strengthen and broaden awareness of Haitian art and artists. John Fox Sullivan serves on HAS’s Board of Directors.
John Fox Sullivan said “I chose UVA because it is one of the most distinguished universities that is also committed to expanding its horizons and that of its students. The team’s energetic commitment to taking an expansive view of integrating our collection with its supporting archives, not only at The Fralin but also with the whole academic program, was compelling to me. On top of that, the leadership of Fralin Director Karen E. Milbourne and UVA Professor Laurent Dubois, and their respective teams sealed the deal.”
“I am thrilled and grateful to John and Beverly Sullivan for this transformative gift to The Fralin and to UVA. Over the past years, I have been able to visit and gaze in wonder at these works in their home, and I’m delighted that so many more will now get this opportunity. This magnificent collection of works brings together the remarkable vision and perspective of generations of Haitian artists, and invite us to see their world, their history, and their dreams as they did. The presence of these works in The Fralin will inspire and educate our students and visitors to the Museum about the country’s luminous artistic culture and its complex and influential history. And the collection and endowment will also help to make UVA a center for the study of Haitian art and nourish our growing transdisciplinary strength in Caribbean Studies,” said Laurent Dubois.
In 2023, the Sullivans gifted twelve paintings to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, currently featured there in the exhibition Spirit and Strength: Modern Art from Haiti,on view through March 9, 2025.
About The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia
Established in 1935, the University of Virginia Art Museum became The Fralin Museum of Art in 2012 in honor of a bequest of American art and service to the University by Cynthia and W. Heywood Fralin. The Museum maintains a collection of more than 14,000 works of art, including American and European painting, works on paper and sculpture from the 15th through the 20th centuries; art from the ancient Mediterranean; Asian art; African art; and Native and ancient American art. Housed in the historic Bayly Building near the Rotunda on the landmark Charlottesville campus, The Fralin is dedicated to serving the widest possible audiences and engaging comprehensive visual education to enhance its visitors' understanding of world cultures. Throughout the year, the Museum presents a diverse selection of exhibitions, public programs, research, and events that bring the University and broader community together. uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu
Image Captions
Castera Bazile (Haitian, 1923–1966), Portrait of Henri Christophe, 1958, oil on Masonite, 25 x 21 inches. Matthew Dunn Photography.
John Fox Sullivan and Beverly Knight Sullivan, May 20, 2021. Matthew Dunn Photography.
Ernst Prophete (Haitian, b. 1950), Terrier Rougue 1915, Repaire des Cacos (Cacos Hideout), 1975, oil on Masonite, 24 x 30 inches. Matthew Dunn Photography.
Henri Calixte (Haitian, 1933 – 2010), Air France, 1975, oil on board, 20 x 12 inches. Matthew Dunn Photography.