Mathieu JN Baptiste

Mathieu Jn Baptiste

Artist-in-Residence (2022 - 2023)

Mathieu JN Baptiste (he/him/his) is a Houston-based artist of Haitian ancestry specializing in painting and drawing, as well as metal sculpture art and installation. During his residency, Baptiste worked to advance voting rights by empowering historically disenfranchised Texans — like voters of color, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with disabilities — to fully participate in our democracy.

Mural and block party in Houston’s Third Ward

Texas has a long history of voter suppression targeting communities of color. The ACLU of Texas worked with Baptiste ahead of the 2022 midterm elections to engage Black voters in and around Houston’s historic Third Ward.

Baptiste painted a 28x24 foot mural at the corner of Berry Street and Emancipation Avenue on the side of a business owned by Third Ward native Onaje Barnes. The mural depicts four figures advocating for voting rights across generations. It also promotes the Election Protection Hotline, so people passing by can easily access more information about when and where to vote.

The mural was unveiled at a block party on Saturday, October 22, 2022. More than 100 people came out to view the mural, participate in family art activities, enjoy food, and connect with Black-led organizations like Black Voters Matter, Project Row Houses, and the RE Collective. Houston media like FOX 26 covered the event as well.

The mural was highlighted by the Houston Chronicle for honoring the Black community and a photo of it was also chosen by the newsroom as a top photograph of the month.

Voting rights mural in Third Ward

Painting workshop to envision Texas’ future

The arts help us envision the world we seek to create. Baptiste led a workshop for ACLU of Texas staff in January 2023 to collectively paint our visions for Texas’ future.

Members of the voting rights team depicted a state where voting is easy, casting a ballot is convenient, and historically disenfranchised communities are empowered to freely and fully participate in the political process. Other issue areas similarly cast visions on canvas.

The six paintings currently hang in the ACLU of Texas’ Houston office.

Staff paint a canvas depicting their vision for voting rights

Portable mural in Houston’s Gulfton neighborhood

Texas is one of the hardest places in the country to vote, especially for people whose primary language is not English. The ACLU of Texas worked with Baptiste during Houston’s 2023 mayoral elections to engage voters of color in Gulfton, where more than 50 different languages are spoken.

Baptiste painted four 48x60 inch panels that spell out V-O-T-E. Each letter incorporates symbols and landmarks that Gulfton residents identified as sources of pride for their neighborhood.

The portable mural was unveiled at a community celebration in Burnett Bayland Park on Saturday, December 2, 2023, ahead of the runoff election. More than 100 people came out to share their visions for the future of the neighborhood by contributing directly to the artwork. Attendees also enjoyed food, engaged in family art activities, and connected with local organizations like Madres del Parque, Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees, Be Frank 4 Justice, Woori Juntos, and Emgage.

The portable mural is currently on display at the Burnett Bayland Community Center and will continue to rotate through locations across the neighborhood.

Residents help paint a mural in Gulfton

Artist Statement

Mathieu JN Baptiste is an acclaimed artist specializing in painting and drawing, as well as metal sculpture art and installation. Baptiste’s artwork is displayed locally, nationally, and globally in museums, governmental buildings, educational institutions, health care clinics, hospitals, murals, and private art collections.

Mathieu JN Baptiste’s passion, creativity, and social compass resonate throughout his artistic works. Mathieu is of Haitian ancestry and his rich heritage attributes to his impeccable ability to infuse culture and art. He is a self-taught visual artist known for his paintings, murals, and metal sculptures. The core of his artistic prowess is his belief that art should teach, heal, and inspire. Mathieu’s influences include the Mannerist movement and Surrealist era. These styles are seen throughout his work. Mathieu’s pieces are based on oppressed subjects’ and populations’ unsung stories and harsh realities that are voiceless and sometimes never expressed. Mathieu’s purpose is to manipulate art to give voice to the oppressed in this ever evolving generation.

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