The painter Hertz Nazaire died five years ago

A Youth Marked by Illness

Son of Yvesrose Nazaire, he left Haiti with his mother for New York, then to Bridgeport. Sickle cell disease was diagnosed early on, and chronic pain as well as repeated hospital stays shaped his vision. He preferred to be called "Naz." After his mother's death in a car accident, he later experienced life on the streets. Encouraged by his teachers at Westhill High School in Stamford, he studied at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and the University of Bridgeport, but could not finish due to his health. The illness caused him to lose sight in one eye.

Color Against Pain

Acrylic painting, mixed media, digital art, and poetry: his work stood out for its vibrant colors inspired by Haiti and themes of suffering, resilience, race, and identity. His "Sickle Cell Series" was used for education worldwide, including on the cover of a McGraw-Hill textbook. In 2017, he published an adult coloring book, "Finding Your Colors." In 2021, he completed the "Waiting Room Project," three chairs adorned with his images evoking long waits in emergency rooms. He also created the character of "Mr. Nobody Cares," a cardboard mask he sometimes wore in public.

A Voice for Patients

An advocate for people with invisible illnesses, he denounced stigmatization and called for better access to care. In 2016, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases honored him for his painting "Ten Redefined." In 2023 and 2024, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America paid tribute to him with a traveling exhibition.