My name is Mikael Semexant. I am a self-taught Haitian-American artist based in South Florida specializing in oil painting. Through my work I seek to relate common experiences of connection, community, and intimacy. Primarily, my work depicts real-life moments from my own experiences in a close-knit, nurturing family/community environment. The scenes found in my work relate moments of tenderness and care between family. These moments are meant to capture the ineffable love that connects us to one another. And by depicting Black people in these narratives I aim to create positive representations of Black people and communities.
I have been making art for as long as I can remember. Art has always been an important part of my identity. I use it as a creative outlet and as a meditative practice. I aspire to move others through sharing deeply intimate, personal experiences. When people view my paintings, I hope that they see my own memories and experiences as their own; seeing themselves in the figures I depict.
"The responsibility of the artist is to make work that's real and that's reflective of something that's true. You have to be true to your own vision of the voice you're trying to find.”
