Atlanta, GA
Atlanta artist’s tribute to his Haitian culture and resilience gets featured on iconic Dior handbag
It’s a cold and rainy day outside Patrick Eugene’s studio in Atlanta, but as you walk in, you immediately feel the warmth of his art.
Eugene started painting at 27. He’s self-taught and doesn’t use photos for reference.
“Every piece that I paint has a flower or plant somewhere in the piece, and that’s an ode to my mother and grandmother. I grew up being my mother’s assistant with gardening,” he said.
Eugene is Haitian-American. He tries to honor his heritage through his work. Now, elements of that Caribbean culture are gracing the handbags of one of the most iconic French fashion houses.
The Atlanta artist was handpicked by Dior to reinterpret the brand’s Lady Dior handbag for the 10th anniversary edition of its Dior Lady Art Project.
“Instantly, I felt this was something way larger than myself. So rather than translating a work directly onto the bag, I honored Haiti. I titled the series the Pearl of the Antilles,” he said.
Haiti earned the nickname during the French colonial era because of the immense wealth made from its coffee and sugar production. It was considered France’s richest colony in the 18th century.
From 1791 to 1804, Haitians revolted against the French, resisting the European country’s colonial exploitation.
“It’s a phrase that they didn’t get to necessarily benefit from. It’s a beautiful phrase; it sounds rich, it sounds elegant, and that’s what the people of Haiti are. So, I wanted to reclaim that for them,” Eugene said.
Each of his bags is designed to reflect Haiti’s hilly landscape, adorned with a pearl, and brought to life through his signature color palette. Eugene created digital mockups, wrote an essay about why the opportunity was important to him, and sent it to the Dior team.
“They received it beautifully and flew out to my studio here in Atlanta with suitcases of materials,” he recalled. “We sat down for hours clipping various materials on the bag, what would work, what wouldn’t work.”
Instead of picking one design, Dior chose all three. The bags just premiered at Art Basel Paris and will be showcased at Art Basel fairs around the world.
“This opens up an opportunity to have conversations about the work, but also the narrative about Haiti, which lives through my paintings always, but I found this as a vessel and a way to get this out globally in another way,” Eugene said.
Haitian culture wasn’t always part of Eugene’s work. For years, he focused on abstract pieces, but a trip to Haiti after the catastrophic earthquake in 2010 shifted his focus.
“It changed everything for me, and I went every year after that, and there was something about the people, the resilience of the people, the history of the island that really spoke to me,” he said.
Eugene believes that when you tap into who you are, that’s when doors open.
“I think there’s something genuine about not giving too much of a care about what the outside world feels immediately, and so when I dive into it, it’s spiritual, it’s me and my space,” he said.
You can see more of Eugene’s work on his Instagram page.
Atlanta officials say the $117 million facility is a game changer in allowing them to train `anytime … day or night, seven days a week.’
The Atlanta Fire Department hazmat team trains on a railcar train donated by Norfolk Southern at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
The sprawling 85-acre facility used to train Atlanta’s police and firefighters includes a mock gas station, a train track with several rail cars, a firehouse, a horse stable, a seven-story burn tower and a 28-lane indoor shooting range.
Department leaders gave an hourslong tour of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Monday, the first in-depth look at the facility since it officially opened more than a year ago in southern DeKalb County.
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An Atlanta Police Department automobile trains on the Skid Pad at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Atlanta Fire Department recruits line the road as the Atlanta Fire Department hazmat team trains on a railcar train donated by Norfolk Southern at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Atlanta Police Department officers practice rappelling down the fire tower at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Atlanta Police Department officers simulate an arrest at the city portion of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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The Atlanta Police Department trains on the gun range at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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A fire at a Chamblee apartment and retail complex displaced more than 75 people and caused a partial roof collapse, according to DeKalb County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews responded around 4:37 p.m. Sunday to the Windsor Parkview Apartments along Peachtree Boulevard after reports of a fire on the roof.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue said that crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from the roof and immediately began evacuating people from the building.
Officials said the fire quickly spread across a portion of the roof, leading to a partial collapse.
Thankfully, firefighters said most of the damage appeared to be confined to the roof area.
Many of the people living at the complex spent Monday waiting for answers about when they may be allowed back inside. Some told CBS News Atlanta they were especially worried about pets and belongings left behind during the evacuation.
“We didn’t have to evacuate, as we were both already out of the house for Mother’s Day stuff. But we still have all of our stuff up in the apartment, and we have two cats that are up there, and we’re trying to figure out what exactly the plan is to get all that out of there,” said resident Thomas Wheeler. Hours later, Wheeler and his girlfriend were reunited with their cats.
Others said the uncertainty following the fire has been frustrating.
“There’s just a lot of people around with not a ton of information. The red cross was here. We got to interact with them. It was really a great experience at the Red Cross,” said resident Macy Trego.
The fire also impacted businesses located beneath the apartments.
Some workers told CBS News Atlanta they still do not know when they may be able to return to work.
“I’ve gotta get paid. Rent is high right now,” said Jeremy Snyder, who works at one of the businesses below the apartments.
Windsor Communities released a statement Monday saying it is working with the Red Cross to help displaced tenants.
“We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s fire at Windsor Parkview Apartments, and our immediate focus is on supporting the residents and families impacted by this incident,” a Windsor Communities spokesperson said. “We are grateful to the first responders and local agencies whose swift actions helped ensure residents were safely evacuated and cared for during a very difficult situation.”
The company also said it is maintaining communication with people impacted by the fire while investigators continue working to determine the cause.
Fire officials said the fire may have started from an air conditioning unit on the roof, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Windsor Parkview opened in 2021 as part of Chamblee’s redevelopment efforts along the Peachtree Boulevard corridor. CBS News Atlanta has also reached out to the City of Chamblee for additional information about the development’s role in the city’s broader revitalization plans.
ATLANTA – Drivers in Midtown Atlanta should prepare for traffic changes this week as a new roadwork project begins along 10th Street.
What we know:
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said part of 10th Street will close starting Wednesday for sewer repairs.
The construction will impact the eastbound lane between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive.
Officials said the repair project is expected to continue for about four weeks.
Crews will work overnight on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Construction activity will continue around the clock on weekends until the project is complete.
What you can do:
Motorists traveling through Midtown are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays in the area during the closure.
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