Vital Setalaire Albert was born on July 23,1975 in the valley of the Artibonite. He is the son of a farmer and a dressmaker, and the oldest of three children.

Malherbe Tenay, a well-known painter at The School of the Artibonite who paints scenes of Haitian rural life began tutoring 12 year old Vital. At 14, he began studying with Saincilus Ismael, the founder of The School of the Artibonite and grand master of the icons. It was at this point that young Albert began to exhibit real control in his drawing and painting.

In 1991 he came to Port-au-Prince to continue his studies, but he failed his Baccalaureate exams in 1995. He continued with painting, under the name of Innocent Vital. In 1993 his father registered his birth certificate name as Vital Setalaire Albert and he began painting under this name. Around that time he modified his style completely, spending five months working in the same studio as Calixte Preserve. He has participated in many group expositions. At present, Vital resides in Port-au-Prince.