A City of Artists, Revolution, and Memory

Nestled on Haiti’s southern coast, Jacmel is a town known for its vibrant spirit, rich cultural traditions, and layered history. With its French colonial architecture, colorful ironwork balconies, and ocean views, Jacmel is often described as one of the most visually striking towns in the Caribbean. But for Christopher Mitchell, it’s more than just a beautiful backdrop—it’s home.

Jacmel is where Christopher’s mother was born, and where he lived for over 15 years. It’s the town that shaped his eye as a photographer, his voice as an artist, and his sense of belonging as a storyteller rooted in Haitian identity. From its winding streets and weathered walls to its energetic markets and quiet corners, Jacmel pulses with a creative energy that’s deeply embedded in Christopher’s work.

Historically, Jacmel has been a cultural capital of Haiti—a haven for poets, painters, musicians, and artisans. It’s where paper meets magic in the iconic papier-mâché masks of Kanaval, where rhythms echo off cobblestone streets, and where local artists transform everyday materials into expressions of resistance, joy, and faith.

But Jacmel is also a town marked by resilience. After the 2010 earthquake, its people rebuilt not just homes but a sense of community, memory, and artistic identity. Christopher’s photographs often reflect this duality—beauty and hardship, silence and celebration, tradition and transformation.

His visual documentation of Jacmel is both a love letter and an archive. From capturing the delicate artistry of local craftspeople to witnessing the devotion of spiritual ceremonies and the bold expressions of Kanaval, Christopher’s lens offers an honest, layered, and deeply human portrait of the town.

To walk through Jacmel is to feel the presence of ancestors, artists, and revolutionaries. It’s a place where history is never far from view—and through Christopher’s images, viewers are invited to see Jacmel not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing force.