Self-exploration, Healing & Art with Nathalie Jean-Baptiste
Nathalie Jean-Baptiste is a Haitian acrylic painter known for her contemporary art. Her expertise is also in art preservation, consultation and framing services. Over the years, she has fostered art education by working in marginalized communities that have small to no exposure to art. As an art specialist, she has worked with the Child Center of New York, using art as a learning tool to stimulate critical thinking, problem-solving skills, communication, and self-esteem in children ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade.
Along with her Learning Through Art residency, she has received her training in gallery teaching at the Gugenheim Museum. Nathalie is pursuing a career in art preservation and restoration, working with experts and clients that understand the relevance of art pieces and their impact on culture and history.
What is the most rewarding thing about being an artist?
The most rewarding thing about being an artist is having the privilege of being courageous, transparent and speaking the language of humanity. I've always said that us artists are "burdened" to be historians. We have stories to tell, feelings to evoke, changes to feed and education to uphold. We see the world differently. That is more than a privilege!
You recently launched your podcast “The Trust Fall”, can you tell us more about this project.
Oh boy! Here goes nothing. The Trust Fall podcast started after having been through one of the hardest moments in my life. After a toxic and betraying divorce, having reached the peak of my healing journey, I realized that the reason I was completely healed was because I had no choice but to trust the process. I had to put in the work! Vulnerably moving through the 5 stages of grief alone (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance), the experience was no easy task. At the beginning of it all, I did not have any guidance and support that usually comes with having family by your side when you go through something like this. I had to face the fact that the closest family member that I had was the one walking out the door. I really WAS ALONE.
Beautiful Chaos by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste.
Interlace by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste.
Tunnel by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste.
That's when I realized I had to build my own support system and allow those that really cared and wanted to be here, in. The biggest challenge was to accept the vulnerability and pain that came with it all. This platform was created to touch on unspoken issues and allow others to know that they are not alone. While we are all going through a series of events called "That's life", the Trust Fall podcast discusses obstacles, goals, stories, fun facts and "aha!" moments by digging into vulnerabilities, culture and history. I want to talk, share, learn, grow and trust the process with others. And let me tell you, it's still a scary process. All this vulnerability! But like I mentioned in the first question, I think it's part of who we are as artists. We allow ourselves to feel, we process and we release!
Where do you find your inspiration when you are creating?
My inspiration comes from colors in real life objects and how they arrange themselves against each other. I also love looking at people and their body movement, the composition in their position vis-à-vis of the space they occupy. I love listening to others sharing their stories and that puts me in a mood of translation. It makes me want to translate in a language that is practically non-existent. And when I'm ready to paint, I like to set the mood with some Bossa Nova playing in the background and a bottle of wine, sitting barefoot on my stool and my hair out!
Blue Goddess (courtesy of Nathalie Jean-Baptiste).
What has been the proudest moment for you as an artist in the past few years?
For me, the past 3 years were personal. They were about putting myself out there, allowing myself to just create. It usually takes me 3 to 6 months to work on a piece and I used to feel like it was unacceptable from an artist. But for me, the process was important. Before starting a canvas, I write my intentions on them and then I prep them with my gesso before starting my painting. The paintings became me, they saw my moods, I sat down with them, I tore them up, started over, layered them. During the past 3 years, I've learned to accept the kind of artist I was and one day I poured it all out into an exhibit : "Triskele" (The Triple Spiral). The exhibit represented the last 3 years of my life; it was a sign of female power through transition and growth.
What is next for Nathalie Jean-Baptiste Arts?
I have been on a hiatus with my art lately. I am pacing myself as I'm wrapping up my Masters program in Arts Management. The goal is to continue working with collectors, interior designers and museums parallel to constituent experience management and design. In terms of my artwork, I have been experimenting with the colors black and white with a focus on the study of how emotions tie into movement and the nature of space and culture. I can't wait to put my next exhibit out there.
Support Nathalie’s work by purchasing her available artworks at her online shop.