Gerard Caliste was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1994, he became involved with Young Aspirations/Young Artists (YA/YA), through which Caliste produced art for a long list of private collectors, and for companies, organizations and celebrities, including MTV, Swatch Watch, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and Oprah Winfrey. In 1994, Caliste was one of 700 artists commissioned by the United Nations to design seat covers for the General Assembly Room in honor of the United Nations’ 50th anniversary in 1995.

Caliste attended the Savannah College of Art and Design on a portfolio scholarship and Presidential scholarship. His series, Waterlines- more than two dozen paintings, poems and sculptures - was previewed at Le Mieux Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana. Caliste is a teacher in Houston, Texas and continues to make work in his approach, a figurative style which he calls New American Abstract Modern Expressionism. Caliste has been selected as the Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator Caribbean Crossings Artist in Residence for 2016 and 2017. Presented in partnership with Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator.