A Vibrancy for Life

Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: April 2025

Some artists contemplate chaos.

Artist Poanè simply flows with Life, enjoying whatever the day brings. He rides the waves, navigating each one’s unique challenge.

This month’s Laurel cover is a classic Poanè. A self-taught artist he portrays the common in his own
uncommon way.

The dramatic thread that stitches all his interests together began with music lessons at age five. He’s a percussive kind of guy, a person of impact, and that was reflected with drumming early on.

What he experienced auditorily crescendo’d into the visual. His energy, dominant colors, intensity, story-telling with sound and beauty, was inspired by his favorite chiaroscuro artist, Caravaggio, Italian painter born in the 1500s. His work, impressively dramatic, resonates in Poanè’s bones.

As a young man Poanè worked his way to the top of the photographic celebrity ladder, snapping entertainers at performances and shows. Often hired, sometimes invited, he submitted scores of candid and posed shots for national publications. Along the way admirers would say, “Hey, you are cool. You from another planet? Why are you here? Why not in Los Angeles or New York?”

He’d laugh and respond, “This is where God puts me. It was in my chart.”

Recently his chart brought him here to Cashiers, along with his art and trademark fedora.

A large version (5’x 6’) of the hat rests outside his Poanè Poanè Gallery door, a landmark for a teeming gallery owned by him and his wife, Jennifer.

Poanè paints on wood and metal, while following his dreams (he actually does dream a lot of his art); Jennifer creates candles, functional works of art in themselves.

Poanè loves to tell stories. If you’re up for it, he’ll pull a couple right out of his fedora. Ask him about the Playboy Club, Louis Farrakhan, or Chris Tucker. Or dozens of other celeb encounters. While you enjoy his tales, visit all his gallery exhibitions, loaded with sensorial delights.

Visit him at his art gallery in Cashiers, located at 560 State Hwy. 107 South in Cashiers. You can send an email to poanegallery@gmail.com or call (678) 508-3421.

Meet Poanè at The Laurel’s first Cover Artist Reception of the season at High Country Wine and Provisions in Highlands on Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. – and raise a glass to his amazing talent. RSVP to info@thelaurelmagazine.com.