Emmanuel Massillon USA, b. 1998

Born in 1998 in Washington D.C., Emmanuel Massillon is a conceptual artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, performance, and sound. His upbringing in the inner city and Haitian heritage deeply inform his work, which critically explores race, identity, and culture, especially relating to people of African descent. Massillon challenges traditional narratives by presenting fresh perspectives on everyday life and politically charged subjects.

Rejecting conventional bourgeois aesthetics, Massillon favors a raw and tactile approach, employing found objects, hand-carved wood, food products, and cultural memorabilia as storytelling materials. His visual language weaves together elements from street vernacular, folk art, and African-American music genres like Jazz, R&B, and Rap—genres he regards as vital archives of Black culture. His sculptures, assemblages, and paintings create layered narratives that bridge past and present, while his performances and installations blur disciplinary boundaries, offering immersive experiences that question dominant cultural paradigms.

Massillon’s art operates as both critique and celebration, a form of resistance and reclamation that invites reflection, mourning, and empowerment. His work has been exhibited internationally, with museum shows in France, Italy, and China, and is included in the permanent collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art, C21 Museum, Flint Institute of Arts Museum, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Through his evolving practice, Emmanuel Massillon continues to redefine how Black culture is represented and preserved in contemporary art, pushing the boundaries of conceptual art while amplifying the resilience and ingenuity found within marginalized communities.