Guy Stanley Philoche (pictured here with his dog, Picasso) immigrated to Connecticut from Haiti when he was three. He attended CAB’s St. Augustine campus for grades 7 and 8 and graduated in 1993. From there he went on to Kolbe Cathedral High School, Paier College of Art, and Yale. Today, the artist lives in New York City where his colorful, textured, abstract pieces have sold for up to $120,000 and he has attracted international attention. But Philoche’s success has not come easily. Two decades ago, he started off by going gallery to gallery and sliding business cards under doors. “I had no one open a door for me. It was me going through the back door,” he said. “Now that I have a seat at the table and I actually have a voice, I vowed to myself to open that door for other artists.” So when Covid struck, Philoche dedicated himself to seeking out struggling artists affected by the pandemic and unable to make ends meet. Thus far, he has spent more than $65,000 purchasing more than 150 artworks for up to $500 each. “So many people have reached out to me, telling me the piece I bought was the first art they ever sold,” he explained. “I want to help as many artists as possible to make sure they are able to buy groceries, pay their rent, get their kids diapers or formula.” Philoche says his time at St. Augustine changed his life. “Those two years formed me into the man I am today. I was a shy, awkward kid but wearing a uniform helped me fit in. We all looked the same and no one knew if you were poor or rich or on scholarship. I still made friends I have to this day. And when I took art classes there, that really fine-tuned everything for me. I realized I really wanted to be an artist.” This week, Philoche is in Palm Beach where one of his paintings is being auctioned. To see Philoche’s work, visit Cavalier Galleries.
