Jacqueline Nesti Joseph

At a very young age Joseph moved to Paris to finish her studies. Thanks to the teachings of Claude Perset and a pupil of Georges Braque, she settled in France. At the home of the artist Manfredo Borsi, she met André Verdet, the poet Jacques Prévert and artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Magnelli. In 1955 she travelled to Mexico and was introduced to Diego Rivera, who became her mentor and friend. Her return to Haiti inspired her intense work of painting where her homeland and surrounding landscapes are depicted in her work.

Returning to Europe, she met and married Victor Nesti, and the couple became inseparable until his death in 2008. Victor Nesti was born in Soho, London, and was an artist in his own right. After working as a chef at the Hotel Carlton, he studied at the Academy of Belle Arti under Ottone Rosai. He had a number of personal exhibitions and listed viewings in galleries and museums worldwide.

Jacqueline Joseph made Pisa her home in 1972, and the couple continued to pursue their artistic talents—Jacqueline through her memories of thematic Haitian topics including market scenes, Haiti Carnival, exotic flowers, etc., and her husband Victor in his interpretation of geometric designs and in describing culinary treats through art. As a result of the latter, a graphical recipe book was produced in 2003 called “A tavola… con I Pisani più schietti,” supported by the Province of Pisa and created by Alberto Marianelli, Alessandro Moretto, and Valeria Caldelli.