This Haitian Heritage Month (May), the Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is inviting the community to experience a vibrant celebration of Haitian culture through art, movement, and storytelling, anchored by the exhibition Lakou La Croix at the Ali Cultural Arts Center.
Running from May 8 through June 13, 2026, Lakou La Croix is a deeply personal solo exhibition by Haitian-born, South Florida–based artist Louiveste La Croix. Through mixed-media works, the exhibition explores themes of childhood memory, displacement, and communal identity rooted in his upbringing in Saint Louis du Nord, Haiti, and his migration journey to the United States.
At the core of the exhibition is the Haitian concept of lakou, a traditional communal living structure symbolizing shared responsibility, resilience, and belonging. For La Croix, lakou becomes both lived experience and metaphor—an interconnected web of homes, memories, and identities shaped during a prolonged immigration process. Each artwork is presented as a “doorway,” inviting viewers into an evolving narrative of home, spirituality, culture, and self.
The celebration opens with a reception on Friday, May 8, from 6–8 p.m. at the Ali Cultural Arts Center, where visitors can meet the artist, engage with the work, and take part in an evening of cultural reflection and community dialogue.
La Croix, who studied Fine Art at Broward College, has exhibited internationally, including in Brooklyn, Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale. His work blends gestural figures, abstract color, and multimedia techniques, often drawing on spiritual symbolism and natural elements. He describes his practice as rooted in authenticity, creative risk-taking, and the pursuit of new forms of expression.
Continuing the festivities, Haitian culture will come alive through movement with Konpa Pompano! on Saturday, May 9, from 7–9:30 p.m. at The Hive Black Box Theater. The interactive dance workshop will be led by instructor Caleb Exantus and focuses on Konpa, one of Haiti’s most popular musical and dance traditions.
Open to all skill levels, the session will guide participants through foundational steps while celebrating the rhythm, energy, and communal spirit of Haitian culture.
Together, Lakou La Croix and Konpa Pompano! form a complementary cultural experience—one offering reflective engagement through visual art, and the other delivering an embodied celebration through dance—creating a multidimensional tribute to Haitian Heritage Month in Pompano Beach.
Event details:
Lakou La Croix Exhibition
May 8 – June 13, 2026
Opening Reception: May 8, 6–8 p.m.
Location: Ali Cultural Arts Center
Admission: Free (registration required)
Konpa Pompano! Dance Workshop
May 9, 7:00–9:30 p.m.
Location: The Hive Black Box Theater
Admission: $10
Tickets here: https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/events/konpa-in-pompano
